研究顯示唐氏症兒童體適能表現較差，因其認知能力之限制，有效的體適能活動需要能誘發唐氏症兒童參與的動機。本研究的目的為探討體適能活動運用於唐氏症兒童之成效，研究對象為65位唐氏症兒童，隨機分配至實驗組 (n = 33；平均年齡 = 10.6 ± 3.2) 及控制組 (n = 32；平均年齡 = 11.2 ± 3.5)。實驗組兒童接受10週、每週三次體適能活動訓練。體適能訓練活動內容包括10分鐘的跑步機運動及30分鐘的虛擬遊戲運動。結果顯示，與控制組相較，實驗組在心肺功能，肌肉力量及身體組成均有明顯的進步。短期 (10週) 的體適能活動可增進唐氏症兒童的體適能，減少因為體適能不佳及缺乏活動而造成的健康問題。

Children with Down syndrome are in need of effective and motivating physical fitness training programs. The effectiveness of an exercise training program for 65 children with DS randomly assigned to two intervention groups (exercise group vs.control group) was evaluated. The mean age for the exercise (n = 33) and the control group (n = 32) was 10.6 ± 3.2 and 11.2 ± 3.5 respectively. The training program consisted of a 10-minute treadmill exercise and one 30-minute virtual-reality based
activity administered three times a week for 10 weeks. The exercise group had signifi cant improvements in cardiovascular functions, body strength, and body composition in comparison to the control group. A short-term physical fitness program used in this study is capable of improving physical fi tness of children with DS to reduce potential health risks associated with poor fi tness and sedentary lifestyles.