Physical activity levels in people with intellectual disability attending daily centers

Background: Often people with intellectual disability (ID) do not practice enough physical activity (PA) in order to achieve health benefits. It has been suggested that the caregiver has a significant role in promoting the participation of PA. Aims: (i) To describe, in terms of physical activity (PA), the activities proposed to Italian ID people attending daily care centers; (ii) to determine if an operator expert in PA can affect number of steps, time spent doing moderate-intensity PA, and daily energy expenditure of the sample.Methods: Forty-eight subjects wear Armband (Sensewear) during the time that they spent to the center (from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.), on weekdays. The sample was divided into two groups: one with an operator expert in PA and one group without operator expert in PA. Results: The data analysis showed that the PA levels of people with ID are far from the 10,000 steps day−1 recommended (3698 ± 2514 steps day−1). However, the presence of an operator expert in PA increases the number of steps and the energy expenditure (METs). Considering the time spent doing moderate-intensity PA, the sample is close to the ACSM’s recommendations of 30 min, but seldom the activity is continued for 10 consecutive minutes. Conclusions: PA of ID people in both the groups (with and without the expert in PA) should be increased and better organized. An operator expert in PA can influence positively the amount and intensity of PA performed toward the center. © 2017 Springer-Verlag Italia S.r.l., part of Springer Nature