Effectiveness of Active Video Games in Children With Intellectual Disabilities
Effectiveness of Active Video Games in Children With Intellectual Disabilities
Background: Children with intellectual disabilities (ID) are more vulnerable to obesity when
 compared to the normal children (Getchell et al., 2012; Maiano, 2011). Active video games
 (AVGs) on physical activity (PA) behavior have attracted academic interest and exploration
 since 2000. It has been demonstrated that an intervention with AVGs is compatible with the
 school setting and behavioral change in health and PA (Lau, et al., 2015). However, special
 populations such as ID children and their needs have been neglected in this area (Martins,
 Carvalho & Soares, 2011). ID children's PA behavior, motor ability and physical fitness is
 still an under-explored area.

 Aims: To determine the effect of a prescribed AVG intervention on ID children's PA levels
 (sedentary, light, moderate, and vigorous), motor ability, and physical fitness. The
 intervention effects in children with mild intellectual disability will be explored.

 Design: A standard two-arm parallel, single-blinded, randomized control cluster trial.

 Schools: Participants will be recruited from six special schools in Hong Kong. Schools with
 same intellectual disability categories will be randomly assigned into intervention group and
 control group.

 Participants: 200 Children aged 8~18 years old with intellectual disabilities will be
 recruited.

 Intervention: ID children randomized to the intervention group will participate in an AVG
 intervention 60 minutes per week for 12 weeks in their PE class, in addition to their usual
 activity levels. The research team will prescribe updated AVG consistent with
 moderate-vigorous intensity.

 Control: The control group will continue with usual PA alone and will not receive the AVG
 intervention.

 Analysis: Repeated measures mixed model (2 groups X 2 time points (12-week post- test and
 8-week follow up test)) by SPSS 23.0 will be used to investigate the intervention effect on
 primary and secondary outcomes, adjusting for baseline characteristics and correlation
 between repeated observations.

 Significance: This will be the pioneering study to provide definitive evidence for the impact
 of a prescribed AVG intervention on ID children's PA level, motor ability and physical
 fitness. If effective, this research will provide significant evidence from the innovative
 method to inform health professionals and PE teachers how to incorporate AVG to enhance
 physical active behaviors, motor ability and physical fitness in ID children. Finally they
 may be able to enjoy a better quality of life.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  students with ID (mild category) aged 8-18 years old from special education schools
 including primary and secondary schools;

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  students without physical disability.