Fundamental movement skills and balance of children with Down syndrome

Abstract

Children with DS who have better balance ability tend to have more proficient FMS. Skill-specific training improved not only FMS sub-skills but static balance stability as well. Working memory did not play a role in the changes caused by skills training. Future research should examine the causal relationship between balance and FMS.

The effect of aquatic exercises on the physical and functional fitness of adults with Down syndrome: A non‐randomised controlled trial

“…Carmeli et al (2002b) reported that older adults with DS did improve dynamic balance (timed up-and-go test) by adopting a treadmill walking programme lasting 6 months. Balance is an important skill that individuals with DS should possess, as it has been demonstrated that better balance is associated with the proficiency to conduct fundamental movement skills in children with DS (Capio et al 2018). Another study used dynamic balance and plyometric land-based exercises during the 12-week intervention period and reported significant improvement in dynamic balance as measured on a balance deck and determined by a stabilometer in adults with DS (Tsimaras and Fotiadou 2004).…”

“…Another study used dynamic balance and plyometric land-based exercises during the 12-week intervention period and reported significant improvement in dynamic balance as measured on a balance deck and determined by a stabilometer in adults with DS (Tsimaras and Fotiadou 2004). Balance is an important skill that individuals with DS should possess, as it has been demonstrated that better balance is associated with the proficiency to conduct fundamental movement skills in children with DS (Capio et al 2018). The lack of improvement in dynamic and especially static balance shown in the current study could possibly be attributed to the shorter intervention period, few balance type activities during the intervention period (side leg lift, lunge and squat jumps) or the additional buoyancy provided by the hydrostatic pressure of the water.…”

Efecto de una intervención basada en realidad virtual sobre las habi lidades motrices básicas y control postural de niños con Síndrome de Down

“…According to Deprá, Bisconsini, & Vieira 22 , late motor development in children with DS may be conditioned by the strength and balance that develop late in this population. Other studies, such as that of Capio et al 13 have analyzed the influence of balance on basic motor skills, finding that those subjects who have better balance tend to have better motor development. Our intervention was based on exercises using a Nintendo Wii along with the Wii Balance Board over an experimental group while the control group continued their normal daily activities.…”

“…Gross motor development was evaluated through the Test of Gross Development (TGMD-2) previously validated in Chilean population by Cano-Cappellacci, Leyton, & Carreño (2015) 19 and used in population with DS [11][12][13] . The TGMD-2 is used to identify deficits in gross motor development in children aged three to ten years, evaluating 12 skills grouped into two areas: locomotor skills and object control skills 20 .…”

“…Different investigations have found that the postural control differences are accentuated as the age of the people with DS increases 7,10 , in addition, in the children when the postural control is evaluated oriented to a motor task, also significant differences have been found compared with children with typical development 8 , this re-flects a limitation in terms of common activities of children, such as games and recreational activities, therefore to carry out interventions in the childhood could have an important impact for their global development 11,12 . Different strategies have been used to improve motor skills and postural control in children with DS ranging from specific strategies for the fundamental skills development, neuromuscular training to even whole-body vibration training [13][14][15] , however, one of the problems observed in practice is the low motivation and commitment to the interventions to be applied, thus, in recent years, the use of technology and video games has been proposed to make it more attractive for children. A systematic review carried out by Page, Barrington, Edwards and Barnett 16 determined the active video games (AVG) effectiveness or also called 'exergame' in the development of motor skills in children and adolescents of atypical development, finding that the interventions that used the Nintendo Wii console, could benefit the motor development, with promising effects on the balance, however, more research is needed due to the different biases that present the analyzed interventions.…”