Effectiveness of a Structured Recreational Physical Activity Program on Static and Dynamic Body Balance in Children with Mild Intellectual Disability (Aged 8–10 Years): An Experimental Intervention Study

Children with mild intellectual disability often exhibit marked deficits in motor coordination and postural control, which significantly limit their functional independence and participation in daily activities.Among these deficits, impaired body balance-both static and dynamic-represents a critical barrier to motor efficiency and social integration.Recreational physical activity has increasingly been recognized as an effective, inclusive, and developmentally appropriate intervention to enhance motor performance and psychological well-being in children with special needs.The present study aimed to examine the effectiveness of a proposed structured recreational physical activity program in improving static and dynamic body balance among children with mild intellectual disability aged 8 to 10 years.An experimental one-group pretest-posttest design was adopted.The study sample consisted of eight children purposively selected from the Psycho-Pedagogical Center for Persons with Disabilities in Biskra, Algeria.Standardized tests assessing static and dynamic balance were administered before and after the implementation of the intervention program.The recreational physical program was specifically designed to accommodate the cognitive, perceptual, and motor characteristics of children with mild intellectual disability, emphasizing playful movement, balance challenges, and progressive motor tasks.Statistical analysis of the collected data revealed statistically significant improvements between pre-and post-test measurements in dynamic balance, static balance, and overall body balance, with all results favoring the post-test assessment.These findings demonstrate that a carefully structured recreational physical activity program can serve as an effective rehabilitative and educational tool for enhancing postural control in children with mild intellectual disability.The study highlights the importance of integrating recreational-based motor interventions within specialized educational and therapeutic settings to promote functional independence, motor competence, and quality of life for this population.