PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of endurance exercise and half-bath on body composition, cardiorespiratory system, and arterial pulse wave velocity of men with intellectual disabilities. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Twenty-four men with intellectual disabilities, but capable of learning, were randomly assigned to aerobic exercise (n = 8), half-bath (n = 8), or control (n = 8) treatment groups. Over the 12-week treatment period, the aerobic exercise group did treadmill and stationary bicycle. The half-bath treatment group was placed in a sitting position in a 39 to 40 degrees C bath for 10 minutes. RESULTS: The aerobic exercise group showed a significant decrease in body fat than those in the half-bath and control groups. In addition, there was an increase in the respiratory system of the aerobic exercise group but no increase in the half-bath and control groups. The arterial pulse wave velocity change was greatest in the aerobic exercise group, but the half-bath group also showed a velocity change from that in the control group. CONCLUSION: Aerobic exercise and a half-bath can have positive effects on improving body composition, respiratory system, and vascular function of people with intellectual disabilities.

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