title: Physical fitness predicts functional tasks in individuals with Down syndrome.
abstract: Individuals with Down syndrome (DS) exhibit reduced strength and aerobic capacity, which may limit their ability to perform functional tasks of daily living.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study was conducted to examine the relationship between timed performance on functional tasks of daily living and age, knee isometric strength, and peak aerobic capacity in a group of individuals with DS.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a cross-sectional study involving 35 individuals (27 +/- 7.5 yr) with DS. Participants completed an isometric test of knee extensor and flexor strength, an individualized exercise test to measure peak aerobic capacity, and three timed functional tasks of daily living, which included chair rise, gait speed, and stair ascent and descent. Multiple regression analyses were performed to examine the relationship between timed task performance and age, knee isometric strength, and peak aerobic capacity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The multiple regression models explained 11-29% of the variance in timed task performance. Knee extensor strength was the most influential variable in predicting timed task performance (squared semipartial correlation coefficient [sr2] = 0.11-0.20), followed by aerobic capacity (sr2 = 0.10-0.14). Age was not a significant predictor of timed task performance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that physical fitness (defined here as aerobic capacity and knee extensor strength) limits the ability of adults with DS to perform functional tasks of daily living. Randomized controlled trials should be performed to test the probable causal relationship between exercises designed to improve physical fitness and functional tasks of daily living.
authors.affiliation: Department of Exercise Science, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY 13244, USA. pmcowley@syr.edu
authors.forename: Patrick M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Cowley
authors.forename: Lori L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Ploutz-Snyder
authors.forename: Tracy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Baynard
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Heffernan
authors.forename: Sae Young
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Jae
authors.forename: Sharon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Miyoung
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Kenneth H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Pitetti
authors.forename: Michael P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Reiman
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fernhall
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004314:Down Syndrome; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D053580:Muscle Strength; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013996:Time and Motion Studies; D016138:Walking; D055815:Young Adult