Does a 16-week rowing ergometry training regimen improve cardiovascular fitness and work capacity in young males with Down syndrome?
A 16-week rowing training regimen in young men with Down syndrome improved exercise endurance and work capacity, although it did not significantly alter baseline cardiovascular fitness.
Effects of a rowing exercise regimen on cardiovascular fitness of young adults with Down syndrome were examined. Sixteen young males with trisomy 21 (mean age 21.3, mean IQ 38.8) were randomly assigned to either a control or exercise group. All participants performed pre- and posttraining graded exercise tests on a treadmill and rowing ergometer. The exercise group performed a 16-week rowing ergometry training regimen. Following training, no changes in cardiovascular fitness had occurred for this group. However, they reached significantly higher levels of work performance for both treadmill and rowing ergometer posttraining tests. Results show that an exercise training regimen did not improve the cardiovascular fitness of young adults with Down syndrome but did improve exercise endurance and work capacity.
Varela et al. (Mon,) studied this question.