Effectiveness of a Motor Rehabilitation Program on Proprioception and Visuospatial Processing in Children with Intellectual Developmental Disabilities

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of a motor rehabilitation program on proprioception and visuospatial processing in children with intellectual developmental disabilities.

Methods and Materials: The research method was quasi-experimental, using a pretest-posttest design with a control group and a two-month follow-up. From the population of trainable children with intellectual developmental disabilities aged 7 to 12 years from exceptional elementary schools in Tehran during the 2023-2024 academic year, a sample of 30 children with an intelligence quotient range of 50 to 75 was selected using a convenience sampling method. They were randomly assigned to two groups of 15 participants (experimental and control groups). Data were analyzed using repeated measures analysis of variance.

Findings: The results indicated that the posttest and follow-up test scores of proprioception and visuospatial processing in children with intellectual developmental disabilities in the experimental group increased compared to the pretest. The results of the repeated measures analysis of variance also showed a significant difference between the experimental and control groups in terms of proprioception and visuospatial processing, and this difference persisted over time (p < 0.0001).

Conclusion: Based on the findings, it is recommended to use the motor rehabilitation program in this study to improve the cognitive status of children with intellectual developmental disabilities.