Intellectual disability (ID) encompasses diverse challenges that affect daily life and health. Sedentary behaviors, prevalent in this population, contribute to alarming health concerns, notably obesity and musculoskeletal issues. This review examines the role of physical activity (PA) interventions in addressing these health challenges among children and adolescents with ID. This systematic review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The search was conducted in the Cochrane Library, PubMed, Scopus, and SPORTDiscus databases, using specific keywords aligned with the PICO framework (population, intervention, comparison, and outcome). From January 2013 to October 2024, a total of 5236 studies were identified, of which 17 met the inclusion criteria for this review according to PRISMA procedures. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) focusing on the impact of PA on body composition, physical fitness, bone health, metabolic indicators, and overall quality of life were included. The study cohort consisted of individuals aged 13–24 diagnosed with ID. The findings consistently highlight the positive relationship between PA interventions and improved health markers in individuals with ID. Diverse PA interventions, ranging from strength training to high-intensity exercises, demonstrated significant improvements in body composition, physical fitness, and bone mineral density. Notably, higher-frequency PA programs (minimum three sessions per week) yielded more substantial benefits. This review underscores the potential of adapted PA interventions to address health concerns and enhance the quality of life for individuals with ID. Further comprehensive research is needed to establish standardized guidelines for effective PA interventions in this population.

Background: Intellectual disability limits physical activity, affecting health and quality of life. Efficient tests to assess cardiorespiratory fitness in adapted football are essential. The Six-Minute Walk Test (6MWT) is a widely used benchmark test but can be logistically challenging. Although alternative tests such as the Sit-to-Stand Test (STST), Chester Step Test (CST), and Two-Minute Step Test in Place (2MST) have been validated in other populations, no study has examined their relationship with the 6MWT specifically in football players with intellectual disability, a population with unique physiological and cognitive characteristics. Therefore, this study reports the convergent validity between the 6MWT and these alternative field tests and describes the physiological responses to each test in football players with intellectual disability. Methods: Forty-two adult male football players with intellectual disability (mean age 27.1 ± 5.6 years) completed the 6MWT, STST, CST and 2MSPT. Physiological parameters, including heart rate, oxygen saturation (SpO₂), and systolic and diastolic blood pressure, were recorded before and after each test. Pearson’s correlation coefficients were calculated to assess relationships among tests. Results: Strong, significant correlations were found between the 6MWT and the STST (r = 0.711), CST (r = 0.724), and 2MSPT (r = 0.683) (all p < 0.001). All tests induced expected changes in heart rate, blood pressure and oxygen saturation. Conclusions: The STST, CST and 2MSPT showed strong associations with the 6MWT and may serve as practical, safe and efficient complementary tools for field-based assessment of cardiorespiratory fitness in this population. These findings apply specifically to adult male football players with intellectual disability and should not be generalized to other populations with intellectual disability.