Long Term effects of Treadmill training in Infants with Down Syndrome Keri Gibson Howard & Sarah Yurt Borders Background on Down Syndrome References Long Term Benefits Conclusion Effects of treadmill training 12% of population have developmental delays and DS is the most frequent cause of chromosomal developmental delays. 1 Typical delays and complications in DS population 2,1 Obesity Greater ROM hypotonia Congenital heart defect Delayed motor skills including walking (Usually don’t walk till age 2, wider step width, shorter step length and walk at a slower speed) Earlier onset Osteoporosis Alzheimer Early onset of musculoskeletal disorders Depression Lower cardiovascular capacity Treadmill training is effective in this population! There needs to be more research on the long term effects. 1 Literature shows that treadmill training in both low and high intensity groups would have long term effect s by improving gait patterns and allowing children to approach their peers with typical development over the first year of independent walking. 2 Aerobic training may Improve cardiovascular fitness and peak oxygen uptake in adults (21-24 years old)with down syndrome. 1 Infants with DS generally move less, have slower movements compared to typical developing children Decreased levels of early motor movements have long term consequences on the developing nervous system and early leg activity is important for later motor development. 4 Level of activity in individuals in general is based on education level and their social status. 1.Barnhart R, Connolly B. Aging and Down syndrome: implications for physical therapy. Physical Therapy [serial online]. October 2007;87(10): Available from: MEDLINE, Ipswich, MA. Accessed November 18, Angulo-Barroso R, Wu J, Ulrich D. Long-term effect of different treadmill interventions on gait development in new walkers with Down syndrome. Gait & Posture [serial online]. February 2008;27(2): Available from: MEDLINE, Ipswich, MA. Accessed November 14, Ulrich D, Lloyd M, Tiernan C, Looper J, Angulo-Barroso R. Effects of intensity of treadmill training on developmental outcomes and stepping in infants with Down syndrome: a randomized trial. Physical Therapy [serial online]. January 2008;88(1): Available from: MEDLINE, Ipswich, MA. Accessed November 14, Burghardt A, Ulrich D, Angulo-Barroso R. Physical Activity and Walking Onset in Infants With Down Syndrome. Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly [serial online]. January 2010;27(1):1-16. Available from: SPORTDiscus with Full Text, Ipswich, MA. Accessed November 14, Engstrom L. Who is physically active? Cultural capital and sports participation from adolescence to middle age—a 38-year follow-up study. Physical Education & Sport Pedagogy [serial online]. October 2008;13(4): Available from: SPORTDiscus with Full Text, Ipswich, MA. Accessed November 20, Ulrich D, Ulrich B, Angulo-Kinzler R, Yun J. Treadmill training of infants with Down syndrome: evidence-based developmental outcomes. Pediatrics [serial online]. November 2001;108(5):E84. Available from: MEDLINE, Ipswich, MA. Accessed November 14, DS Children receiving treadmill training walk earlier than 2 years (3-4 months earlier) 3 Both low and high intensity treadmill training protocols have shown benefits Early locomotion can benefit many areas of development: promotes perception, spatial cognition, and social and motor skills, contributes to the onet of broad array of psychological skills, helps them learn more about the world because they can walk independently and can actively explore their surroundings. 3 High intensity protocols must be individualized and have shown increased benefits (i.e. early walking onset, increased velocity and cadence and lower double support percentage. 2 Treadmill training has long term effects in children with Down Syndrome 2 gait patterns helps them to approach their peers with typical development over first year of independent walking Early activity may promotes activity later in life 5 - decreases onset or chances of 1 : Obesity Cardiovascular disease osteoporosis Depression Possibly Alzheimer Potentially reduce misalignments that cause pain later in life. ( by restoring normal quality of gait 3 Promotes gains in other areas 4,6 Cognitive, social, psychological