WORLD DOWN SYNDROME DAY
WHAT IS DOWN SYNDROME?
Down Syndrome (DS), also known as Trisomy 21, is the most common genetic chromosomal condition in the United States. It affects 1 in 700 babies born each year.
PHYSICAL PRESENTATION & WHAT YOU MAY SEE
Individuals with Down Syndrome may present with slightly flattened facial profile, an upward slant of the eyes and low muscle tone. Low muscle tone is simply global weakness of muscles, which can also lead to looser joints. There are a wide range of characteristics you may notice that can range from mild to severe. On every range of the spectrum, Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy can provide service to these kids & adults to improve quality of life.
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY SERVICES
Many children with Down Syndrome demonstrate difficulty developing their independence and self-care skills at the same stage as their peers. These functional challenges can be addressed by a variety of interventions by Occupational Therapists. Multiple studies have demonstrated fine motor skills and grip strength to be predictors of functional performance in children and adolescents with DS (Duker et al., 2021). Fine motor activities to improve handwriting and fastening clothing items, strengthening of postural muscles to facilitate chewing and swallowing, and sensory activities to facilitate improvement in over responsivity of sensory system are just a few specialized interventions that Occupational Therapists can implement to increase quality of life for individuals diagnosed with Down Syndrome.
PHYSICAL THERAPY SERVICES
When children with Down Syndrome are diagnosed with low tone, this directly translates to weakness and coordination/balance deficits across the life span. Physical therapy specializes in strength training to reach goals, which are specific to each individual. According to Gonzalez et al. (2019), there is benefit of physical therapy interventions, specifically in strength and balance, in people with Down syndrome. Starting therapies at a young age can create a foundation of strength and balance that can improve safety across the lifespan. Physical Therapists specialize is a variety of interventions including balance, fall risk prevention, running, jumping, skipping and many more than are considered neuromuscular exercises. Neuromuscular exercise appears to be effective for the improvement of both lower limb and chest muscle strength and balance in kids with Down Syndrome (Rodriguez-Grande et al., 2022).
THE LUCKY FEW FOUNDATION
The Lucky Few Foundation is a non-profit arm of the National Down Syndrome Advocacy Organization. The Lucky Few are considered any and all loved ones, including family and friends, of special individuals diagnosed with Down Syndrome. Check out their foundation for more details at here. We really are the lucky few to be related to and enjoy time with those with Down Syndrome.
Happy World Down Syndrome Day!
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Stein Duker LI, Martinez M, Lane CJ, Polido JC, Cermak SA. Association between oral care challenges and sensory over-responsivity in children with Down syndrome. Int J Paediatr Dent. 2022 Jul;32(4):546-557. doi: 10.1111/ipd.12933. Epub 2021 Dec 29. PMID: 34622519; PMCID: PMC8989722.
Beqaj S, Tërshnjaku EET, Qorolli M, Zivkovic V. Contribution of Physical and Motor Characteristics to Functional Performance in Children and Adolescents with Down Syndrome: A Preliminary Study. Med Sci Monit Basic Res. 2018 Oct 16;24:159-167. doi: 10.12659/MSMBR.910448. PMID: 30323163; PMCID: PMC6199818.
Ruiz-González L, Lucena-Antón D, Salazar A, Martín-Valero R, Moral-Munoz JA. Physical therapy in Down syndrome: systematic review and meta-analysis. J Intellect Disabil Res. 2019 Aug;63(8):1041-1067. doi: 10.1111/jir.12606. Epub 2019 Feb 20. PMID: 30788876.
Rodríguez-Grande EI, Vargas-Pinilla OC, Torres-Narvaez MR, Rodríguez-Malagón N. Neuromuscular exercise in children with Down Syndrome: a systematic review. Sci Rep. 2022 Sep 2;12(1):14988. doi: 10.1038/s41598-022-19086-8. PMID: 36056081; PMCID: PMC9440024.
