7. Contribution to the Field
intellectual disability
Adults with an intellectual disability have a limited executive function, making their ability to live independently challenging. Physical exercise may improve certain aspects of the executive function in this population. However, whether badminton can improve executive function is unclear, owing to the inconsistent results among previous studies. This randomized controlled study found that 12 weeks of training in badminton skills and game playing improved the executive function of adults with a mild intellectual disability. The moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity performed during the training not only promoted executive function, but it also improved the physical health of the individuals in this population. The badminton program designed for this study can be replicated to enrich the physical activity interventions for people with an intellectual disability to strengthen their body and improve their brain function and their overall quality of life.