Abstract

Objective: to determine the effects produced by the use of apps in maintaining healthy habits and physical condition in people with intellectual disabilities. Material and method: a quasi-experimental study was conducted with a final sample of 17 adults with intellectual disabilities distributed in an experimental group and a control group. All participants have developed an intensive program of physical activity and training in healthy habits. The experimental group has used in addition to the above 2 apps of health-wellbeing and habit creation. The physical condition was evaluated before starting the intensive program of 10 weeks, immediately after and after 6 months. Results: when comparing the two groups with respect to the pre-intervention and post-intervention period, we observed that all the participants improved their physical condition (p < 0.05). Comparing the pre-intervention periods with 6 months later, both groups maintained improvements, although not as relevant as at the post-intervention time. The experimental group significantly in the areas of strength in legs, strength in arms and balance. The control group in the areas of strength in legs. At 6 months after the intervention, the control group obtained worse results than the experimental group, records returned to base line values faster. Conclusions: performing a program of intensive physical activity of 10 weeks duration causes an improvement in the physical condition of all participants. Accompanying the program with the use of the apps didn’t maintain the positive effects over time, although it favored a smaller loss of improvements. Keywords: disability, physical activity, mobile applications, healthy lifestyle, physical fitness. in the areas of strength in legs. At 6 months after the intervention, the control group obtained worse results than the experimental group, records returned to base line values faster. Conclusions: performing a program of intensive physical activity of 10 weeks duration causes an improvement in the physical condition of all participants. Accompanying the program with the use of the apps didn’t maintain the positive effects over time, although it favored a smaller loss of improvements.