DSFit: a feasibility pilot study of a group exercise programme for adolescents with Down syndrome

Abstract

Background While past research has underscored the benefits of physical activity for people with Down syndrome (DS), exercise programming that is customised to and/or accessible for children and adolescents with DS is limited. The objectives of this pilot were to (1) develop and refine an engaging exercise programme for adolescents with DS, called DSFit; (2) assess feasibility over the course of two pilot iterations; and (3) examine participant and parent feedback regarding exercise priorities and the DSFit exercise programme. Method Participants were 12 unique adolescents (ages 11–17 years) with DS. Both pilot iterations of the programme consisted of weekly group exercise sessions and home exercises to complete between sessions. Physical fitness and mood/behaviour were assessed at baseline and at the end of the intervention. Parent and child goal‐setting and feedback surveys were collected before and immediately after the intervention, and a 2‐month follow‐up assessed physical activity and exercise attitudes. Quality improvement methodology and participant/parent feedback were used to modify the second iteration to better meet the needs of our study population. Changes included an expanded age range, modified physical assessments, decreased burden of questionnaires, and video‐recorded group sessions for at‐home practice. Results Physical fitness evaluation of core/trunk strength and stability, lower‐ and upper‐body strength, balance, flexibility, and walking was feasible, and the majority of participants in both pilot iterations improved in at least one category of physical assessment between baseline and end of intervention. Assessment of symptoms of anxiety, depression and behavioural concerns was also feasible and results showed slight improvements in some participants. Both parent and participant feedback indicated that participants enjoyed the programme and appreciated the opportunity to start developing sustainable exercise habits. Conclusions A group exercise programme with supported at‐home components is feasible for adolescents with DS. Future iterations will continue to examine programme efficacy with improved fitness testing and larger sample sizes. Strategies to increase at‐home compliance, such as virtual sessions and parent/guardian‐guided physical fitness assessments, will also be incorporated.

Impact of Physical Activity on Autonomy and Quality of Life in Individuals with Down Syndrome: A Systematic Review

“…Five of them used combined training programs in which different exercises focused on the development of different basic physical qualities were performed (i.e., strength exercises, cardiorespiratory endurance, flexibility, etc.). Two of the interventions used adapted physical activity programs [44,47], while the remaining three used three different types of combined training: Kashi practices, a combination of cardiovascular training, strength, balance, and flexibility [38]; muscle resistance training and assisted cycling [42]; and fitness training through the DSFit group exercise program [45]. On the other hand, two of the studies carried out interventions through adapted soccer training [43,46].…”

“…A description of the sample is provided in Table 3. Of the thirteen selected studies, three included children aged between 3 and 11 years [36,37,41], six included teenagers aged 12 to 17 years [35,36,41,[45][46][47], and seven included adults over 18 years of age [38][39][40][42][43][44]47]. Several of them included two different age ranges: children and teenagers [36,41] or teenagers and adults [47].…”

“…Six articles analyzed the impact of physical activity on the autonomy of the participants: two in children and adolescents [45,46] and three in adults [38,39,42]. Specifically, five aspects related to autonomy were addressed: cognitive function, functional mobility, motor proficiency, adherence, and independence.…”

“…Three studies [42,45,46] analyzed the effects of interventions on the cognitive function of a total of 51 participants (37 children and adolescents, 14 adults). More specifically, these studies addressed two specific aspects of cognitive function: the behavior of the participants and their cognitive planning and decision making.…”

“…The impact of the intervention on adherence to physical activity practice in two participants who repeated the intervention and the parents' perception of the changes in the 12 participants' independence was analyzed by Hojlo et al [45].…”