The General Movements in children with Down syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
Aim of our study was to describe the character of General Movements (GMs) in children with Down Syndrome (DS).


METHODS
GMs of 23 children with DS and of 30 healthy full-term infants were assessed from birth to 6th month corrected age. A qualitative and a semi-quantitative evaluation of GMs were achieved for each child. Data were graphically displayed to obtain growth curves of motor optimality scores.


RESULTS
GMs in children with DS are characterised by low-low/moderate speed, large-large/moderate amplitude, partially creating impression of fluency, smoothness and complexity, abrupt beginning and end, few other concurrent gross movements. During the 6 months, all children showed an improvement of qualitative and semi-quantitative evaluation, but it was possible to observe great heterogeneity among children in the evolutionary course. GMs evaluation of children with no known motor problems was normal, showing only slight and transient abnormalities at first months.


CONCLUSIONS
GMs character of children with DS could be related to central nervous system and peripheral abnormalities characterizing this syndrome. The evaluation of GMs in children with DS could be an early marker of motor impairment and help in early management decisions making.
Division of Child Neuropsychiatry, Department of Pediatrics, University of Catania, Via S. Sofia, 78, 95100 Catania, Italy.
Luigi
L
Mazzone
Diego
D
Mugno
Domenico
D
Mazzone
D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000196:embryology / Q000254:growth & development; D002657:Child Development / Q000145:classification; D004314:Down Syndrome / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004453:Echoencephalography; D005260:Female; D005324:Fetal Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D018730:Infant Behavior; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D009048:Motor Skills / Q000145:classification; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal; D014743:Videotape Recording