Research tells us that youth with Down Syndrome exhibit deficits in gross motor skills, fundamental motor skills, balance and postural control. A recent study examined using exercises for Down Syndrome therapy activities to improve balance skills. Types of Balance Balance can be assessed in different ways: static and dynamic or a combination of them both. […]
Recent research indicates that functional skills continue to improve throughout life with Down Syndrome. The American Journal of Medical Genetics published research examining the range of functional abilities found in people with Down syndrome in order to help parents and clinicians. Survey of Life with Down Syndrome A survey was conducted with 2658 parents from […]
A randomized controlled study was published on 30 children with Down syndrome, where 15 children received physical therapy and 15 children received physical therapy and whole body vibration training. Both groups participated 3x/week for 6 months. The groups underwent stability testing and muscle strength testing before and after the 6 mos of the treatment program. […]
The International Journal of Disability, Development and Education has published research on 12 adolescents with Down syndrome. Each individual participated in the Corsi-Block tapping test (e.g., visual working memory), the Auditory Memory span test (e.g., verbal working memory) and the Tower of London test (e.g., cognitive planning), and motor control, measured by the Purdue Pegboard (e.g., fine […]
A research review was published on treadmill interventions with partial body weight support in children under six years of age at risk of neuromotor delay. Five diverse studies were included on treadmill training in 139 children. Data was only included from three studies because the 5 studies were so diverse. These 3 studies all had […]
A recent research study using a mouse model was published in the American Journal of Physiology – Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology comparing the soleus muscle in mice with Down syndrome and mice without Down syndrome. The results indicated that there was not a significant difference between the two groups of mice with regards to […]
A single subject, alternating treatment design was used to analyze the effectiveness of two different supramalleolar orthotics. Two children with Down syndrome each participated in three phases: without orthotics, SureStep orthotic and the DAFO #4 orthotic. Using the Gross Motor Function Measure, results indicated improvements in both children with the SureStep orthotic and child #1 […]
A case study was published in Pediatric Physical Therapy regarding a 12 year old with a diagnosis of Down Syndrome who followed a home program using the Wii. The 12 year old used the Wii 4 times per week for 20 minute sessions over a period of 8 weeks. The family was encouraged to participate. […]
Physical Therapy has published research on the effects of bicycle riding on children with Down Syndrome. Two groups of children with Down Syndrome ranging in age from 8-15 years old participated in the study. The experimental group was taught how to ride a bicycle over a five day period. The control group received no intervention […]
A randomized controlled trial on strength and balance training in children with down syndrome was published in Clinical Rehabilitation . Twenty three children with Down Syndrome were divided into two groups – an experimental group who received 6 weeks of progressive resistive exercise and balance training and a control group (no intervention). The results indicated […]