Treadmill Training of Infants With Down Syndrome: Evidence-Based Developmental Outcomes (original) (raw)
Related papers
Collections Randomized Controlled Trials Outcomes Measurement Gait and Locomotion Training Down Syndrome Adaptive/Assistive Devices in the following collection(s): This article, along with others on similar topics, appears e-Letters "Responses" in the online version of this article. "Submit a response" in the right-hand menu under or click on here To submit an e-Letter on this article, click E-mail alerts to receive free e-mail alerts here Sign up by guest on February 12, 2014
Physical activity in infants with Down syndrome receiving a treadmill intervention
Infant Behavior and Development, 2008
Despite the recognized relevance of physical activity in the development and health of children, assessment of physical activity levels (PA-level) in infancy is limited, especially in infants with Down syndrome (DS). Increasing PA-level using a treadmill training (TMT) intervention may benefit infants with motor delays. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether a higher intensity, individualized TMT protocol (HI) would elicit immediate and short-term higher PA-level in infants with DS than a lower intensity, generalized training protocol (LG).
Developmental shifts in the ability of infants with Down syndrome to produce treadmill steps
Physical therapy, 1995
In this study, we used a dynamic systems strategy to examine longitudinally the ability of infants with Down syndrome to produce alternating steps when supported on a motorized treadmill. Seven infants participated, ranging in age from 8 to 11 months at entry into the study and 13 to 29 months at their final session. Data were collected in the infants' homes on a monthly basis. Testing continued until each subject produced consistent alternating step patterns during three consecutive test sessions. All infants responded by producing alternating steps, on average, 13.3 months before they walked independently, but they initiated this response at a wide range of chronological ages and significantly later than reported previously for nondisabled infants. Similar developmental variables (control parameters) marked the shift into responsiveness to the treadmill context for all infants with Down syndrome, but these variables differed from those identified for nondisabled infants. With ...
Physical Therapy, 2010
Background Infants with Down syndrome (DS) have delayed walking and produce less-coordinated walking patterns. Objective The aim of this study was to investigate whether 2 treadmill interventions would have different influences on the development of joint kinematic patterns in infants with DS. Design Thirty infants with DS were randomly assigned to a lower-intensity, generalized (LG) treadmill training group (LG group) or a higher-intensity, individualized (HI) treadmill training group (HI group) and trained until walking onset. Twenty-six participants (13 in each group) completed a 1-year gait follow-up assessment. Methods During the gait follow-up assessment, reflective markers were placed bilaterally on the participants to measure the kinematic patterns of the hip, knee, and ankle joints. Both the timing and the magnitude of peak extension and flexion at the hip, knee, and ankle joints, as well as peak adduction and abduction at the hip joint, in the 2 groups were compared. Resul...
Experimental Brain Research, 2008
This study investigated how newly walking toddlers with Down syndrome (DS), after diVerent treadmill interventions, adopted clearance strategies and modi-Wed anticipatory locomotor adjustment patterns to negotiate an obstacle in their travel path. Thirty infants with DS (about 10 months of age) were recruited and randomly assigned to either a lower-intensity, generalized (LG) treadmill training group, or a higher-intensity, individualized (HI) treadmill training group. Thirteen in each group completed a one-year-gait follow-up after the treadmill intervention. Initially, both groups chose to either crawl or walk over an obstacle. However, walking over the obstacle became their preferred clearance strategy over the course of the gait follow-up even though the height of the obstacle increased from visit to visit. The HI group used the strategy of walking over the obstacle at a considerably higher percentage than the LG group within 6 months after the training. When approaching the obstacle, both groups started to show consistent anticipatory locomotor adjustments about 6 months after the training. Both groups decreased velocity, cadence and step length, and increased step width at the last three pre-obstacle steps. It was concluded that the retention of the HI training eVects led the HI group to predominantly walk over an obstacle earlier than the LG group within 6 months after treadmill intervention, and the two groups produced similar anticipatory locomotor adjustments in the last three steps before negotiating the obstacle.
Physical activity and walking onset in infants with Down syndrome
Adapted physical activity quarterly : APAQ, 2010
Infants with Down syndrome (DS) are described as being less active and they also experience significant delays in motor development. It is hypothesized that early infant physical activity may be influential for the acquisition of independent walking. Physical activity was monitored longitudinally in 30 infants with DS starting at an average age of 10 months participating in a treadmill training intervention. Actiwatches were placed on infants' trunk and right ankle for a 24-hr period, every other month until walking onset. Data were analyzed to separate sedentary-to-light activity (low-act) and moderate-to-vigorous activity (high-act). Results showed that more leg high-act at an average age of 12 and 14 months is related to earlier onset of walking. It is recommended that early leg activity should be promoted in infants with DS.
Gait & Posture, 2008
This longitudinal study investigated the long-term effect of different treadmill interventions on the development of gait patterns in infants with Down syndrome (DS). Thirty infants with DS (mean age 10.0 months, S.D. 1.9 months) were randomly assigned to either a ''low intensity-generalized'' (LG) training group, or a ''high intensity-individualized'' (HI) training group. Treadmill intervention was conducted in infants' homes until they walked three steps independently. Twenty-five participants completed a 1-year gait follow-up after the treadmill intervention. Six basic gait parameters were examined: normalized velocity, cadence, step length, step width, double support percentage, and dynamic base. Principal component analysis (PCA) conducted for the set of the six basic gait parameters demonstrated that the first principal component (PC1) accounted for 83.8% of the variance. A two-way ANOVA with repeated measures conducted with PC1 scores revealed a significant visit effect and group difference; both groups significantly increased PC1 scores over time, and the HI group produced significantly higher PC1 scores than the LG group. Specifically, the HI group produced significantly higher normalized velocity and cadence, and lower double support percentage than the LG group. In addition, both groups significantly reduced foot rotation asymmetry over time although no difference was found between the two groups. We concluded that the HI treadmill intervention provided a better long-term effect on the development of basic gait parameters than the LG training, and the reduction of foot rotation asymmetry over time was not differentially affected by the different training protocols. #