Effect of sensorimotor groups on gross motor acquisition for young children with Down syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
To examine whether participation in sensorimotor groups and individual intervention resulted in greater improvements in motor skill acquisition than solely individual intervention for young children with Down syndrome.


METHODS
Ten children with Down syndrome, 13 to 29 months of age, participated. Children in both groups received individual intervention, and children in the intervention group participated in 10 weekly sensorimotor groups. All children were assessed at 3 points using the Gross Motor Function Measure and Goal Attainment Scaling.


RESULTS
Children in the intervention group demonstrated significant improvement compared with children in the control group at the p < 0.10 level in lying and rolling, crawling and kneeling, and total score domains of the Gross Motor Function Measure and in Goal Attainment Scaling.


CONCLUSIONS
Participation in sensorimotor groups and individual intervention resulted in greater improvement in motor skill acquisition than solely individual intervention for young children with Down syndrome. Additional research to support these exploratory findings is needed.
Division of Physical Therapy, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA. phtacl@langate.gsu.edu
Alyssa C
AC
LaForme Fiss
Susan K
SK
Effgen
Judith
J
Page
Sharon
S
Shasby
D002657:Child Development; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004314:Down Syndrome / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009048:Motor Skills; D010379:Peer Group; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D013997:Time Factors