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| Change in the gross motor skill scores from the Total Gross Motor Development-version 2 (TGMD-2). Data are presented as means ± SEM. The figure inset shows the individual participant's mean scores for both locomotor skill and object control skill (n = 11). Every participant improved in all facets of motor skill (i.e., total, locomotor, object control) (n = 11). These data showed a 21.7% increase in overall motor skill (i.e., 29.3% increase in locomotor and 14.9% increase in object control). Individual data shown on the upper right inset panels. The "*" indicates a significant difference from pre-testing corresponding value.
Source publication
Adults with Down syndrome are an underserved population at high risk for a host of different pathologies from aging and lack of activity.
Purpose
To examine the effects of a 10-week resistance training program on measures of motor behavior, cognitive function, mood, and physical fitness.
Methods
Participants ( n = 11) were men and women clinicall...
Contexts in source publication
Context 1
... skill and object control skill are subsets of total gross motor skill (18). Total motor skill and subset metrics are shown in Figure 2. Participants significantly improved both locomotor skill (ES = 1.165, p = 0.001), object control skill (ES = 0.779, p = 0.008), and total gross motor function (ES = 1.019, p = 0.000) (Figure 2). ...
Context 2
... skill and object control skill are subsets of total gross motor skill (18). Total motor skill and subset metrics are shown in Figure 2. Participants significantly improved both locomotor skill (ES = 1.165, p = 0.001), object control skill (ES = 0.779, p = 0.008), and total gross motor function (ES = 1.019, p = 0.000) (Figure 2). ...
Citations
... These results corroborate what was mentioned by Melo et al. [12] and Sugimoto et al. [76] and confirm that strength training is safe in this population. These significant changes could be justified due to neural adaptations (intramuscular and intermuscular coordination) and muscular adaptations (hypertrophy) [77] or by an increase in the activation rate of motor units [78]. ...
This systematic review aimed to analyze the effects of exercise, physical activity, and sports on physical fitness in adults with Down syndrome (DS). A literature search was conducted across four databases EBSCO, Scopus, Web of Science, and PubMed. The PRISMA guidelines were followed. The PEDro scale and the Cochrane risk of bias tool were used to assess the quality and risk of the studies, respectively. The protocol was registered in PROSPERO (code: CRD42023449627). Of the 423 records initially found, 13 were finally included in the systematic review, in which 349 adults with DS participated. 92% of the articles declared at least one significant difference post-intervention. The available evidence indicates that exercise, physical activity, and sports have a positive effect on some variables of physical fitness, especially strength, balance, body composition, cardiorespiratory fitness, flexibility, and functional capacity. Furthermore, it should be considered as an additional treatment or complementary therapy to improve the functionality and quality of life of adults with DS.
... For comparative purposes, the Fundamental Motor Skills (FMS) assessments are used to gauge the motor competencies of children with DS against those of typically developing children. (23) In research focused on adults with DS conducted in 2023, the SAMU-Disability Fitness Battery Test (SAMU-DISFIT) was introduced to evaluate physical fitness, with an emphasis on identifying distinct fitness profiles based on gender and physical activity levels. This study utilized the EUROFIT Battery and Motor Assessment Battery for Children (MAB-C) to perform six tests, marking a shift from previous methodologies. ...
Background: Children with Down syndrome frequently experience particular difficulties with regard to their physical well-being and motor growth. The body mass index (BMI) measures body composition and weight status, whereas physical fitness measures general health and functional capacity. Objective: To evaluate the relationship between BMI, Physical fitness and motor skills in children with Downs syndrome. Methods: In our seven-month cross-sectional study,
... It is crucial to develop personalized occupational therapy intervention programs based on the individual needs of children with DS. Research suggests that children with DS exhibit lower neuromotor performance compared to their neurotypical peers (Moriello et al., 2020;Post et al., 2022). ...
The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of a sensory integration-based occupational therapy intervention programme on the sensory functions and neuromotor performance of a 14-month-old baby with Down syndrome (DS). The study evaluated the baby's sensory functions using the Test of Sensory Functions in Infants (TSFI) and neuromotor performance using the Neuro Sensory Motor Development Assessment (NSMDA) after recording demographic information. The infant participated in a 12-week occupational therapy intervention program, receiving 45-minute sessions once a week, and the family was provided with a home program. Evaluations were conducted before and after the intervention. The results showed positive improvements in the infant's sensory functions and neuromotor performance. The baby's NMDA functional level score decreased from 17 to 11, while the TSFI total score increased from 29 to 42. The study found that sensory integration-based occupational therapy intervention could be effective in improving sensory functions and neuromotor performance in a baby with DS. These results suggest that clinical management of sensory and neuromotor function may be of benefit to a significant number of babies with DS.
... Although resistance exercise (RE) has been highlighted as a relevant intervention for promoting multisystemic benefits to individuals with DS, including increases in the expression and production of some antioxidant and anti-inflammatory biomarkers, as well as improving muscle strength and power (9,23,(33)(34)(35)38), the literature reports that studies on RE in this population are scarce and underexplored (27). Therefore, caution is needed in the prescription of RE for individuals with DS regarding the progression of training loads, equipment and implements used, and exercise choice. ...
... Nevertheless, it is important to manage the doseresponse manner of exercise so that it is not too strenuous or too weak to induce biochemical alterations that lead to a hormesis response. At low doses, reactive oxygen species appear to exert beneficial health effects, whereas at higher doses, they are unquestionably harmful (27). ...
... Furthermore, the RE session with elastic tubes enables quantification of the muscle strength of individuals with DS and comparisons with individuals without the syndrome and induced changes in the redox balance and in the inflammatory profile in the WDS group. This type of intervention can also increase exercise capacity and generate huge impacts on the health of this population (27). ...
Reis, AL, Deus, LA, Neves, RVP, Corrêa, HL Reis, TL, Aguiar, LS Honorato, FS, Barbosa, JMS, Araújo, TB, Palmeira, TRC, Simões, HG, Prestes, J, Sousa, CV, Ide, BN, and Rosa, TdS. Exercise-induced transient oxidative stress is mitigated in Down syndrome: insights about redox balance and muscle strength. J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000–000, 2023—This study aimed to evaluate the acute effects of a session of resistance exercise (RE) performed with elastic tubes on the redox balance and inflammatory profile in individuals with Down syndrome (DS). Subjects ( n = 23) were allocated into 2 groups: individuals with DS (DS; n = 11) and individuals without DS (WDS; n = 12), who performed an acute RE session. Diagnostic assessment included medical history, anthropometric measures (body height, body mass, body mass index, and body composition assessment), biological collections, muscle strength assessments (handgrip and maximal voluntary isometric contraction tests), and exercises. The redox balance and inflammatory profile were assessed in urine and saliva samples before and after an acute RE session. There were no differences between WDS and DS groups for body composition ( p > 0.05). The DS group presented higher values pre and post an acute RE session with elastic tubes for oxidative and proinflammatory markers compared with WDS ( p < 0.05). Uric acid values increased from pre–acute RE session to post–acute RE session for WDS ( p < 0.0001). No differences were identified within groups for the delta analysis ( p > 0.05). Inverse correlations were found between total force and F2-isoprostane, 8OHdG, uric acid, allantoin, IL-6, TNF-α, and the TNF-α:IL-10 ratio. A positive correlation was found between IL-10 and total force. The DS group presented increased peak force in the knee extension and elbow flexion exercises (∼25 and 12%, respectively) but decreases in handgrip strength of ∼7%. The WDS group showed higher peak force values for knee extension, elbow flexion, and handgrip (∼16, 10, and 14%, respectively). The DS group had lower transient elevation of oxidative stress after an acute RE session compared with WDS. Oxidative stress and inflammation responses of DS to an acute RE session with elastic tubes may be insufficient to induce health adaptations for the same relative load compared with WDS.
... Table 1 shows that the studies selected for this review included a total of 402 participants aged 18-65 years. Of the 16 studies, 15 included the population aged 21-50 years 1,2,5,12,13,17,19,20,[31][32][33][34][35][36][37] , with only 4 14,32,34,36 including the population aged 60 years and older, and included the population aged 18-20 12,13,33,[35][36][37] years. The study with the smallest sample was the one by Post et al. 35 , with 11 participants, while that with the largest sample was the study by Rimmer et al. 20 , with 52 participants. ...
... Table 1 shows that the studies selected for this review included a total of 402 participants aged 18-65 years. Of the 16 studies, 15 included the population aged 21-50 years 1,2,5,12,13,17,19,20,[31][32][33][34][35][36][37] , with only 4 14,32,34,36 including the population aged 60 years and older, and included the population aged 18-20 12,13,33,[35][36][37] years. The study with the smallest sample was the one by Post et al. 35 , with 11 participants, while that with the largest sample was the study by Rimmer et al. 20 , with 52 participants. ...
... Of the 16 studies, 15 included the population aged 21-50 years 1,2,5,12,13,17,19,20,[31][32][33][34][35][36][37] , with only 4 14,32,34,36 including the population aged 60 years and older, and included the population aged 18-20 12,13,33,[35][36][37] years. The study with the smallest sample was the one by Post et al. 35 , with 11 participants, while that with the largest sample was the study by Rimmer et al. 20 , with 52 participants. ...
Therapeutic exercise exerts positive effects by mitigating or reducing the motor or cognitive changes that people with Down syndrome undergo throughout their life. There are no updated systematic reviews that integrate the evidence available in a way that facilitates decision-making for physical rehabilitation teams. This study therefore aimed to consolidate the information available and compare the effects of different types of physical exercise on the motor function of adults with DS. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials and quasi-experimental studies. The literature search was performed between January 2023 and February 2023 using the PubMed, SCIELO, Epistemonikos, and Lilacs databases. Studies were selected according to pre-determined inclusion and exclusion criteria. The risk-of-bias assessment was performed using the risk-of-bias rating tool for randomized clinical trial (RoB) and the risk of bias of non-randomized comparative studies was assessed using the risk of bias in non-randomized studies of interventions (ROBINS-I) tool. Risk-of-bias assessment and meta-analyses were performed using the RevMan software package. Sixteen studies met the eligibility criteria for the qualitative synthesis and 4 were included in the meta-analyses. Combined exercise significantly increased muscle strength both in the upper limbs (SMD = 0.74 [95% CI 0.25–1.22]) and lower limbs (SMD = 0.56[95% CI 0.08–1.04]). Aerobic exercise improved spatiotemporal gait parameters. Aerobic exercise showed significant improvements in dynamic balance while combined exercise significantly increased dynamic and static balance. The certainty of the evidence was low to moderate for all outcomes. There was low and moderate certainty of evidence for the outcomes proposed in this review. However, therapeutic exercise could be effective in improving muscle strength and gait functionality.
... Other aerobic activities, even resistance training (8)(9)(10)(11)(12) repetitions at 75% of the participant's 1RM), could seem to improve EFs. Other studies on subjects with DS have used a protocol based on resistance training and demonstrated an increase in balance and strength [37], cognitive function [99], motor behavior, mood, and physical fitness [100] without investigating EFs. In summary, interventions based on EFs, which are tailored to the age of subjects with DS, are effective in contrasting the cognitive decline and showing improvements in EFs in young and adults. ...
Down syndrome (DS) is one of the most common chromosomal disorders. In addition to this variety of dysmorphic features. DS is also associated with a wide range of diseases and related comorbidities affecting different organs and systems. These comorbidities, together with societal and environmental influences, have a negative impact on physical activity in people with DS. Low levels of physical activity and energy expenditure have been identified as crucial players in worsening the acquisition of motor skills and executive functions. Executive functions are critical for the many skills (creativity, flexibility, self-control, and discipline) impacting our quality of life and make it possible to control impulses, mentally play with ideas, and stay focused. We proposed a broad overview of the available literature regarding motor skills and executive functions in pediatric patients with DS to understand the specific challenges for tailoring physical activity interventions. Motor skill interventions are effective in improving motor competence and performance on cognitive, emotional, and physical aspects in children with DS. Interventions based on executive functions in DS subjects are effective to contrast the cognitive decline and improve the everyday use of executive functions in youth and adults. Targeted interventions are mandatory for maximizing the benefits of physical activity, minimizing potential risks, and ultimately improving the overall health outcomes and quality of life for individuals with DS.
Post, EM, and Kraemer, WJ. Physiological mechanisms that impact exercise adaptations for individuals with Down syndrome. J Strength Cond Res 37(12): e646–e655, 2023—Down syndrome (DS) is the most common chromosomal disorder diagnosed in the United States since 2014. There is a wide range of intellectual severities, with the average IQ of individuals with DS at approximately 50 and adults without intellectual delay at approximately 70–130. Individuals with DS vary from mild to severe cognitive impairment, depending on the phenotypic penetration on the 21st chromosome, with the average cognitive capacity equivalent to a cognitive functioning of an 8- to 9-year-old child. To have successful health, all aspects of health must be considered (i.e., overall health, fitness, and social). Both aerobic training and resistance training (RT) are favored for a healthy lifestyle. Resistance training specifically can help improve motor function and overall activities of daily living. Although many motivational and environmental barriers for individuals with DS can make exercising difficult, there are many ways to overcome those barriers (both intrinsically and extrinsically). Individuals with DS should strive for 150 minutes of moderate-intensity or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic exercise a week or a combination of both. The individual should also strive for 2 or more days a week of strengthening activities, such as RT, involving all muscle groups. These activities will help improve many aspects of life, leading to a better quality of life. Regular group exercise activity can help increase self-confidence and success socially in life. This review will focus on the underlying biological mechanisms related to DS, their influence on exercise, and the roles exercise plays in mediating positive health, physical fitness, and social lifestyle outcomes.
