Investigation of the effect of an 8-week judo training program applied to individuals with down syndrome on some hematological parameters

This study examined the effects of an eight-week judo training program on certain hematological and biochemical parameters for individuals with Down syndrome. The study was conducted with two separate groups: an experimental and a control group; only the experimental group received regular judo training. Pretest and posttest data were compared, and parametric tests were used in the analyses because normality tests demonstrated that the data were normally distributed. In the experimental group, a significant increase in HDL levels was observed after judo training, while significant decreases were observed in LDL, total cholesterol, CRP, AST, ALT, and triglyceride levels (p<0.05). These findings demonstrate that judo training has positive effects on metabolic health. In the control group, despite not exercising, significant changes were observed in some parameters, but most of these changes were physiologically negative. In conclusion, an eight-week judo training program was found to have positive effects on the motor and biochemical profiles of individuals with Down syndrome, particularly reducing metabolic health risk factors. These findings suggest that structured exercise programs for individuals with Down syndrome should be supported for both health promotion and quality of life. Keywords: Down syndrome, Hematological parameters, Judo.