Exploring the relationship between cognitive abilities and motor performance in athletes with intellectual disabilities

IntroductionBasketball practice for athletes with intellectual disabilities (ID) is an ancient activity that stimulates cognitive and motor performance domains. This study aims to verify the association between cognitive performance and motor abilities in basketball athletes with ID.MethodsA total o...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Luca Cavaggioni, Damiano Formenti, Linda Casalini, Francesco Granito, Chiara Magro, Andrea Manente, Simona Canton, Nicola Lovecchio, Paolo Castiglioni, Giampiero Merati
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-06-01
Series:Frontiers in Sports and Active Living
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fspor.2025.1601355/full
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849471266473377792
author Luca Cavaggioni
Luca Cavaggioni
Damiano Formenti
Linda Casalini
Francesco Granito
Chiara Magro
Andrea Manente
Simona Canton
Nicola Lovecchio
Paolo Castiglioni
Paolo Castiglioni
Giampiero Merati
Giampiero Merati
author_facet Luca Cavaggioni
Luca Cavaggioni
Damiano Formenti
Linda Casalini
Francesco Granito
Chiara Magro
Andrea Manente
Simona Canton
Nicola Lovecchio
Paolo Castiglioni
Paolo Castiglioni
Giampiero Merati
Giampiero Merati
author_sort Luca Cavaggioni
collection DOAJ
description IntroductionBasketball practice for athletes with intellectual disabilities (ID) is an ancient activity that stimulates cognitive and motor performance domains. This study aims to verify the association between cognitive performance and motor abilities in basketball athletes with ID.MethodsA total of 23 participants with ID were screened on cognition (clinical reaction time and Bells test 30 s and 90 s), motor performance [handgrip strength test (HST), countermovement jump (CMJ), static balance], and anthropometry [body mass index (BMI) and skinfolds] in a cross-sectional design.ResultsA strong negative relationship was observed between clinical reaction time with HST and CMJ variables. A strong positive association was also found between Bells test 30 s with anthropometric variables (BMI) and power-related CMJ outcomes. Linear regression models revealed that the CMJ concentric mean force explained 34.3% of the variance of performance time during the clinical reaction time, and the HST combined with BMI explained 53% of the variance of cognitive ability during the Bells test 30 s.ConclusionsThese results suggest a positive correlation between cognitive and motor performance in basketball players with ID. These findings encourage further exploration of how sports interventions could ameliorate physical and cognitive health in individuals with ID.
format Article
id doaj-art-02520ec54e684d6080f6030f02c0bbd3
institution Kabale University
issn 2624-9367
language English
publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
record_format Article
series Frontiers in Sports and Active Living
spelling doaj-art-02520ec54e684d6080f6030f02c0bbd32025-08-20T03:24:53ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Sports and Active Living2624-93672025-06-01710.3389/fspor.2025.16013551601355Exploring the relationship between cognitive abilities and motor performance in athletes with intellectual disabilitiesLuca Cavaggioni0Luca Cavaggioni1Damiano Formenti2Linda Casalini3Francesco Granito4Chiara Magro5Andrea Manente6Simona Canton7Nicola Lovecchio8Paolo Castiglioni9Paolo Castiglioni10Giampiero Merati11Giampiero Merati12Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, University of Insubria, Varese, ItalyObesity Unit and Laboratory of Nutrition and Obesity Research, Department of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, ItalyDepartment of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, University of Insubria, Varese, ItalyDepartment of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, University of Insubria, Varese, ItalySciences of Preventive and Adapted Physical Activities, University of Insubria, Varese, ItalySciences of Preventive and Adapted Physical Activities, University of Insubria, Varese, ItalySchool of Medicine in Sports and Exercise, University of Insubria, Varese, ItalySchool of Medicine in Sports and Exercise, University of Verona, Verona, ItalyDepartment of Human and Social Sciences, University of Bergamo, Bergamo, ItalyDepartment of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, University of Insubria, Varese, ItalyIRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi Onlus, Milan, ItalyDepartment of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, University of Insubria, Varese, ItalyIRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi Onlus, Milan, ItalyIntroductionBasketball practice for athletes with intellectual disabilities (ID) is an ancient activity that stimulates cognitive and motor performance domains. This study aims to verify the association between cognitive performance and motor abilities in basketball athletes with ID.MethodsA total of 23 participants with ID were screened on cognition (clinical reaction time and Bells test 30 s and 90 s), motor performance [handgrip strength test (HST), countermovement jump (CMJ), static balance], and anthropometry [body mass index (BMI) and skinfolds] in a cross-sectional design.ResultsA strong negative relationship was observed between clinical reaction time with HST and CMJ variables. A strong positive association was also found between Bells test 30 s with anthropometric variables (BMI) and power-related CMJ outcomes. Linear regression models revealed that the CMJ concentric mean force explained 34.3% of the variance of performance time during the clinical reaction time, and the HST combined with BMI explained 53% of the variance of cognitive ability during the Bells test 30 s.ConclusionsThese results suggest a positive correlation between cognitive and motor performance in basketball players with ID. These findings encourage further exploration of how sports interventions could ameliorate physical and cognitive health in individuals with ID.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fspor.2025.1601355/fullintellectual disabilitybasketballcorrelation analysisfitnessintellectual and developmental disabilities
spellingShingle Luca Cavaggioni
Luca Cavaggioni
Damiano Formenti
Linda Casalini
Francesco Granito
Chiara Magro
Andrea Manente
Simona Canton
Nicola Lovecchio
Paolo Castiglioni
Paolo Castiglioni
Giampiero Merati
Giampiero Merati
Exploring the relationship between cognitive abilities and motor performance in athletes with intellectual disabilities
Frontiers in Sports and Active Living
intellectual disability
basketball
correlation analysis
fitness
intellectual and developmental disabilities
title Exploring the relationship between cognitive abilities and motor performance in athletes with intellectual disabilities
title_full Exploring the relationship between cognitive abilities and motor performance in athletes with intellectual disabilities
title_fullStr Exploring the relationship between cognitive abilities and motor performance in athletes with intellectual disabilities
title_full_unstemmed Exploring the relationship between cognitive abilities and motor performance in athletes with intellectual disabilities
title_short Exploring the relationship between cognitive abilities and motor performance in athletes with intellectual disabilities
title_sort exploring the relationship between cognitive abilities and motor performance in athletes with intellectual disabilities
topic intellectual disability
basketball
correlation analysis
fitness
intellectual and developmental disabilities
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fspor.2025.1601355/full
work_keys_str_mv AT lucacavaggioni exploringtherelationshipbetweencognitiveabilitiesandmotorperformanceinathleteswithintellectualdisabilities
AT lucacavaggioni exploringtherelationshipbetweencognitiveabilitiesandmotorperformanceinathleteswithintellectualdisabilities
AT damianoformenti exploringtherelationshipbetweencognitiveabilitiesandmotorperformanceinathleteswithintellectualdisabilities
AT lindacasalini exploringtherelationshipbetweencognitiveabilitiesandmotorperformanceinathleteswithintellectualdisabilities
AT francescogranito exploringtherelationshipbetweencognitiveabilitiesandmotorperformanceinathleteswithintellectualdisabilities
AT chiaramagro exploringtherelationshipbetweencognitiveabilitiesandmotorperformanceinathleteswithintellectualdisabilities
AT andreamanente exploringtherelationshipbetweencognitiveabilitiesandmotorperformanceinathleteswithintellectualdisabilities
AT simonacanton exploringtherelationshipbetweencognitiveabilitiesandmotorperformanceinathleteswithintellectualdisabilities
AT nicolalovecchio exploringtherelationshipbetweencognitiveabilitiesandmotorperformanceinathleteswithintellectualdisabilities
AT paolocastiglioni exploringtherelationshipbetweencognitiveabilitiesandmotorperformanceinathleteswithintellectualdisabilities
AT paolocastiglioni exploringtherelationshipbetweencognitiveabilitiesandmotorperformanceinathleteswithintellectualdisabilities
AT giampieromerati exploringtherelationshipbetweencognitiveabilitiesandmotorperformanceinathleteswithintellectualdisabilities
AT giampieromerati exploringtherelationshipbetweencognitiveabilitiesandmotorperformanceinathleteswithintellectualdisabilities