Effects of Modifications to the One-Mile Test in Individuals with Down Syndrome

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marcelo antonio Pino Valenzuela
Universidad Santo Tomás, Faculta de Educación, Escuela de Pedagogía en Educación Física, chile
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0293-1960
Luis Alberto Benavides Roca
Universidad Santo Tomás, Faculta de Salud, Escuela de Ciencias del deporte, Chile; Universidad Autónoma Facultad de Educación, escuela de Pedagogía en Educación Física.
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0995-2564

Abstract

The present study aims to address this need by integrating complementary aspects into the standard protocol of the One-Mile Test (1609 m), in order to analyze how these adaptations impact heart rate variation and execution time during the test. A quasi-experimental design with short-term repeated measures (two weeks) was used to analyze the effect of modifications to the Rockport or One-Mile Test protocol on heart rate and execution time in individuals with Down syndrome (DS). The sample consisted of 60 participants (35 males and 25 females) with Down syndrome, enrolled in a special education center in the city of Talca, selected through non-probabilistic convenience sampling, aged between 10 and 26 years. Pre-test and post-test assessments were conducted by applying modifications to the traditional protocol. The main findings showed a significant improvement in performance as the test was repeated. Similarly, a significant increase in heart rate was observed at 10 and 15 minutes between assessments. This study demonstrated the effectiveness of modifications to the initial Rockport test protocol (environmental adjustments, small groups, instructor support, and prior familiarization), considering the improvement in participants’ functional response in terms of execution time and heart rate behavior.

Item information
Published: Apr 10, 2026
Issue: Vol. 27 No. 1 (2026): Revista Ciencias de la Actividad Física UCM
Section: Research
DOI: https://doi.org/10.29035/rcaf.27.1.8
Keywords: Down syndrome, Physical performance, Rockport test, Heart rate, Methodological adaptations

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Pino-Valenzuela, M. A., & Benavides- Roca, L. A. (2026). Effects of Modifications to the One-Mile Test in Individuals with Down Syndrome. Revista Ciencias De La Actividad Física UCM, 27(1), 111-123. https://doi.org/10.29035/rcaf.27.1.8
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