Background/Objectives: Physical activity and sports participation are widely recognized as effective strategies for enhancing quality of life (QoL) in individuals with disabilities. This study aimed to examine the relationship between QoL and athletic performance among male and female athletes with physical disabilities who participate in individual sports. Methods: This descriptive–correlational study involved 338 Iranian athletes with physical disabilities competing at various levels of competition. QoL was measured using the SF-36 questionnaire, and sports performance was assessed based on official competition records. Data were analyzed using SPSS v21, applying descriptive statistics and Pearson correlations. Results: Both male and female athletes reported high levels of overall QoL. No statistically significant differences were found between genders in terms of physical health, psychological well-being, or total QoL scores (p > 0.05). Furthermore, there were no significant correlations between QoL and sports performance at the provincial, national, or international levels (p > 0.05). Conclusions: The findings indicate that athletes with physical disabilities report relatively high levels of QoL, irrespective of their competitive achievements or medal standings. Although no statistically significant correlations were observed, participation in individual sports may be linked to better physical functioning and psychological resilience. These associations should be interpreted with caution and do not imply causality. Nonetheless, encouraging such participation could be beneficial in supporting various dimensions of health and promoting social inclusion among individuals with disabilities.

Objectives. This experimental study aimed to examine the effects of a 12-week unified rhythmic activity intervention on selected physical and physiological parameters among children with mild intellectual disability. Materials and Methods. Thirty children (aged 10–14 years) diagnosed with mild intellectual disability (IQ 50–70) were randomly assigned to either an experimental group (n = 15) or a control group (n = 15). The experimental group participated in a structured unified rhythmic activity program, while the control group continued their regular school routines. Pre- and post-intervention assessments included body mass index (BMI), body fat percentage, flexibility, muscular endurance, cardiovascular endurance, resting heart rate (RHR), and vital capacity (VC). A two-way mixed-design ANOVA (2 groups × 2 time points) was employed to evaluate the main and interaction effects. Results. A significant main effect of time was observed for flexibility (p < 0.001, ηp² = 0.68), muscular endurance (p = 0.002, ηp² = 0.54), cardiovascular endurance (p < 0.001, ηp² = 0.72), RHR (p = 0.008, ηp² = 0.48), and VC (p = 0.001, ηp² = 0.58). Additionally,significant group × time interaction effects were found for flexibility (p < 0.001, ηp² = 0.62), muscular endurance (p = 0.003, ηp² = 0.51), cardiovascular endurance (p < 0.001, ηp² = 0.65), and RHR (p = 0.012, ηp² = 0.42), with the experimental group showing superior improvements. No substantial changes were observed for BMI or body fat percentage. Conclusions. The unified rhythmic activity intervention produced meaningful improvements in flexibility, muscular endurance, cardiovascular fitness, and resting heart rate among children with mild intellectual disability. These findings support incorporating rhythmic movement-based training into adapted physical education programs to enhance physical and physiological outcomes in this population.

Objectives. This study aimed to compare the effects of plyometric training (PT) and combined plyometric plus core training (PT+CT) on autonomic nervous system regulation and local muscle oxygenation during resistance exercise in collegiate athletes. Specifically, changes in heart rate variability (HRV), muscle oxygen saturation (SmO₂), and performance parameters were examined following a 10-week intervention. Materials and Methods. A three-arm, parallel-group, assessor-blinded randomized controlled trial was conducted with 45 collegiate athletes (aged 19–24 years) from volleyball, soccer, and basketball backgrounds. Participants were randomly assigned to PT (n = 15), PT+CT (n = 15), or a control group (CON; n = 15). The PT group performed progressive plyometric exercises, while the PT+CT group completed identical plyometric training supplemented with structured core exercises, three sessions per week for 10 weeks. The CON group continued sport-specific training only. Primary outcomes included resting and post-exercise HRV indices (RMSSD, SDNN, HF power, LF/HF ratio) and SmO₂ measured via near-infrared spectroscopy during incremental back squat at 60%, 70%, and 80% of 1-RM. Secondary outcomes included maximal strength, jump performance, blood lactate, and perceived exertion. Results. Forty-two participants completed the study. Both PT and PT+CT groups showed significantly greater improvements in 1-RM back squat compared with CON (P < .001). The PT+CT group demonstrated superior increases in resting RMSSD compared with PT (P = .008) and CON (P < .001). During high-intensity exercise (80% 1-RM), SmO₂ was significantly higher in PT+CT than in both PT and CON (P ≤ .01). Post-exercise HF power was better preserved in PT+CT than CON (P = .003). Additionally, countermovement jump performance improved more in PT+CT than PT (P = .04) and CON (P < .001), with no significant differences observed in blood lactate or RPE. Conclusions. The findings confirm that combined plyometric and core training elicits superior improvements in autonomic regulation and muscle oxygenation compared to plyometric training alone, supporting its integration into resistance-based conditioning programs for enhanced physiological and performance adaptations.

Background: Girls with mild intellectual disability experience persistent deficits in adaptive behavior, coping skills, and social integration, particularly during adolescence when psychosocial demands intensify. Despite this need, accessible, school-based psychological interventions remain limited. Given the risk of long-term social exclusion and reduced quality of life, identifying low-cost, inclusive strategies such as unified rhythmic activity is urgently required. Aims: This study evaluated the effects of rhythmic activity training and unified rhythmic activity training on psychological outcomes, adaptive behavior, and coping strategies for girls with MID, who participated alongside typically developing peers. Methods: A three-arm randomized controlled trial included 45 girls (10–14 years) with mild intellectual disability (IQ 50–70) in Coimbatore, India. Participants were assigned to rhythmic training, unified rhythmic training, or control groups. Interventions lasted 12 weeks (60 minutes, thrice weekly). Primary outcomes were adaptive behavior and coping strategies; secondary outcomes included self-efficacy, social competence, emotional regulation, quality of life, and behavioral problems. Analyses applied intention-to-treat, repeated measures ANOVA, and ANCOVA. Result: Significant within-group reductions were found for Irritability/Agitation in RATG and URATG (both p < 0.001), but not in CG (p = 0.64), with significant between-group differences (p < 0.001). Social Withdrawal improved in RATG (p = 0.003) and URATG (p < 0.001), not in CG (p = 0.81). Stereotypic Behavior and Hyperactivity decreased significantly in both intervention groups (p ≤ 0.009), but not in CG (p ≥ 0.75), with significant group effects (p < 0.001). Inappropriate Speech showed no within-group significance, though between-group differences were significant (p = 0.001). Conclusion: This study establishes that rhythmic and unified rhythmic interventions significantly enhance adaptive behavior and coping in girls with mild intellectual disability, with the unified model offering superior social benefits. It advances inclusive physical activity as a theoretically grounded, evidence-based approach and contributes robust experimental data supporting scalable, school-based psychosocial interventions.