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. 2024 May 12;12(10):995.
doi: 10.3390/healthcare12100995.

Effect of Verbal Encouragement on Postural Balance in Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities

Ghada Jouira  1 , Dan Iulian Alexe  2 , Cristina Ioana Alexe  3 , Haithem Rebai  4 , Alina Ionela Cucui  5 , Ana-Maria Vulpe  3 , Gheorghe Gabriel Cucui  5 , Sonia Sahli  1
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Effect of Verbal Encouragement on Postural Balance in Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities

Ghada Jouira et al. Healthcare (Basel). .

Abstract

This study investigated the effect of verbal encouragement (VE) on static and dynamic balance in individuals with intellectual disabilities (IDs). A total of 13 mild IDs and 12 moderate IDs participants underwent static balance tests (bipedal stance on firm surface, under open eyes (OEs) and closed eyes (CEs), and foam surface, unipedal stance on firm surface) and dynamic balance assessments (Y Balance Test (YBT) and Expanded Timed Up-and-Go Test (ETUGT)) under VE and no VE (NO/VE) conditions. VE significantly reduced center of pressure mean velocity (CoPVm) values for mild IDs in firm bipedal CEs conditions. The mild IDs group exhibited improved YBT scores and enhanced ETUGT performances for both groups under VE. Incorporating VE as a motivational strategy in balance training interventions can positively impact static and dynamic balance in individuals with mild IDs, especially in challenging conditions like unipedal stances on firm surfaces.

Keywords: Y balance test; expanded timed up-and-go test; intellectual disability; posturography; verbal encouragement.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Comparison of CoPVm values between adults with mild and moderate intellectual disabilities (IDs) in bipedal stance, in open eyes (OEs) and closed eyes (CEs) conditions, and unipedal/foam stances in OEs condition during no verbal encouragement (NO/VE) and verbal encouragement (VE) conditions. Notes: ***: significant difference (p < 0.001) between NO/VE and VE; #: significant difference (p < 0.05) between mild IDs and moderate IDs groups; $: significant difference (p < 0.001) between OEs and CEs conditions.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Comparison of Y Balance Test (YBT) composite score and scores in anterior (ANT), posteromedial (PMED), and posterolateral (PLAT) for adults with mild and moderate intellectual disabilities (IDs) during no verbal encouragement (NO/VE) and verbal encouragement (VE) conditions. Notes: *, ***: significant differences (p < 0.05, p < 0.001) between NO/VE and VE; #: significant difference (p < 0.05) between mild IDs and moderate IDs groups.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Comparison of Expanded Timed Up-and-Go Test (ETUGT) performance between adults with mild and moderate intellectual disabilities (IDs) during no verbal encouragement (NO/VE) and verbal encouragement (VE) conditions. Notes: *, ***: significant differences (p < 0.05, p < 0.001) between NO/VE and VE; #: significant difference (p < 0.05) between mild IDs and moderate IDs groups.
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