Sports Participation

1
Sports Participation Balance in Children with
Down Syndrome Alex Piedmonte and Abby Naville
Background on Down Syndrome
Sports Participation
Conclusion

• Beneficial effects of sports in children with DS
  include improvements in.5,7
• Stamina
• Muscle strength
• Endurance
• Speed,
• Agility,
• Flexibility
• Balance
• Decrease deconditioning
• According to Menear, parents of children with DS
  reported their child would always choose a
  sedentary activity over a physical activity.
• Parents believe that programs specifically
  catered for children with DS facilitate
  participation1
• Participants in Special Olympics showed higher
  aerobic capacity, strength, and power 4
• Sports provide an opportunity for imitation and
  social interaction. 5
• There is a lack of accessibility to
  community-based programs that are appropriate for
  children with DS.4

• Sports participation in children with DS is a
  good way to facilitate physical activity which
  will improve balance
• The best sports to improve balance in children
  with DS would include repetitive balance
  activities
• Suggested sports soccer, gymnastics, swimming,
  and track
• Avoid high contact sports such as football and
  diving
• Future studies should analyze specific outcomes
  such as balance improvement as it is related
  directly to sports participation.
• Sports is a good long term maintenance activity
  to improve quality of life and decrease
  dependence.

• A genetic disorder attributed to chromosomal
  abnormality (Trisomy 21)2
• Incidence of 1/660 births7
• Ligament laxity5
• Decreased muscle strength of lower extremity2
• Balance deficits
• Decreased hand-eye coordination
• Decreased visual motor control
• Slower reaction time6
• Lower levels of physical fitness3

Balance

• Balance can be improved with a balance specific
  training program.
• Gupta et al found a balance specific training
  over a six week period led to overall improved
  balance and LE strength.
• Tsimaras et al showed after a twelve week
  training program, dymanic balance was improved
  compared to the physically inactive lifestyle
  that children with DS are prone to.
• Activities that were used for balance training in
  the two studies mentioned include 2,6
• Horizontal and vertical jumps
• Single and double leg hop
• Single Leg Stance with eyes open
• Tandem stance
• Walking on a line
• Walking on a balance beam
• Jumping on a trampoline

http//www.downsyndromensw.org.au/pages/community-
activities-services.html
References
1. Barr M, Shields N. Identifying the barriers
and facilitators to participation in physical
activity for children with Down syndrome. Journal
Of Intellectual Disability Research serial
online. November 201155(11)1020-1033.
Available from CINAHL with Full Text, Ipswich,
MA. Accessed November 12, 2013. 2. Gupta S, Rao
B, SD K. Effect of strength and balance training
in children with Down's syndrome a randomized
controlled trial. Clinical Rehabilitation serial
online. May 201125(5)425-432. Available from
SPORTDiscus with Full Text, Ipswich, MA. Accessed
November 12, 2013. 3. Li C, Chen S, Meng How Y,
Zhang A. Benefits of physical exercise
intervention on fitness of individuals with Down
syndrome a systematic review of
randomized-controlled trials. International
Journal Of Rehabilitation Research.
Internationale Zeitschrift Für Rehabilitationsfors
chung. Revue Internationale De Recherches De
Réadaptation serial online. September
201336(3)187-195. Available from MEDLINE,
Ipswich, MA. Accessed November 12, 2013. 4.
Menear K. Parents' Perceptions of Health and
Physical Activity Needs of Children with Down
Syndrome. Down Syndrome Research And Practice
serial online. July 1, 200712(1)60-68.
Available from ERIC, Ipswich, MA. Accessed
November 12, 2013 5. Murphy N, Carbone P.
Promoting the Participation of Children With
Disabilities in Sports, Recreation, and Physical
Activities. Pediatrics serial online. May
2008121(5)1057-1061. Available from Academic
Search Premier, Ipswich, MA. Accessed November
12, 2013. 6. Tsimaras V, Fotiadou E. Effect of
training on the muscle strength and dynamic
balance ability of adults with Down syndrome.
Journal Of Strength Conditioning Research
(Allen Press Publishing Services Inc.) serial
online. May 200418(2)343-347. Available from
SPORTDiscus with Full Text, Ipswich, MA. Accessed
November 12, 2013. 7. Winell J, Burke S. Sports
participation of children with Down syndrome.
Orthopedic Clinics Of North America serial
online. July 200334(3)439-443. Available from
CINAHL, Ipswich, MA. Accessed November 12, 2013.
http//www.canada.com/story_print.html?idb8733e18
-12b6-4b84-befa-0caa7c6a6ac3sponsor