Effect of strength and balance training in children with Down's syndrome: a randomized controlled trial.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study was to determine the effect of exercise training on strength and balance in children with Down's syndrome.


METHODS
Randomized controlled trial.


METHODS
Rehabilitation school for special children.


METHODS
Twenty-three children were randomized to intervention and control group. The intervention group (n = 12) underwent progressive resistive exercises for lower limbs and balance training for six weeks. The control group continued their regular activities followed at school.


METHODS
A handheld dynamometer was used to measure the lower limb muscle strength. Balance was assessed by the balance subscale of Bruininks Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency (BOTMP).


RESULTS
Following the training, the children in the intervention group showed a statistically significant improvement (P < 0.05) in the lower limb strength of all the muscle groups assessed. The strength of knee extensors was 12.12 lbs in the control group versus 18.4 lbs in the experimental group; in hip flexors it was 12.34 lbs in the control group versus 16.66 lbs in the experimental group post-intervention. The balance of the children also improved significantly with an improvement in scores of the balance subscale of BOTMP (19.50 in the experimental group versus 9.00 in the control group, P = 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
This study suggests that a specific exercise training programme may improve the strength and balance in children with Down's syndrome.
Sardar Bhagwan Singh Post Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Balawala, Dehradun, India. sukritigupta22@gmail.com
Sukriti
S
Gupta
Bhamini Krishna
BK
Rao
Kumaran
K
S D
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D004314:Down Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018908:Muscle Weakness / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D004856:Postural Balance; D055070:Resistance Training / Q000379:methods; D012678:Sensation Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation*