HIIT exercise programs for individuals with Down syndrome show benefits
Incorporating high-intensity interval training (HIIT) into exercise programs for individuals with Down syndrome (DS) may help achieve critical health outcomes in a more time-efficient manner, according to an article written by researchers at the University of Georgia and Kennesaw State University.
Published in the American College of Sports Medicine journal, the article provides practical insights to better inform health and fitness professionals about DS, while also helping them design more effective exercise programs for people with the condition.
“HIIT provides the same health benefits as aerobic exercise, but can take less time to provide those benefits,” said Megan Ware, a doctoral student in the Department of Kinesiology and co-author of the article. “The short, high-intensity exercises in HIIT also do not require long periods of sustained effort and can give people with DS better heart health, better control of body weight, and better blood sugar and lipid levels.”
Other co-authors of the article include Kevin McCully, a professor in the Department of Kinesiology and director of UGA’s Exercise Muscle Physiology Lab, and Yuri Feito, an associate professor of exercise science at Kennesaw State University.