The Effect of a Selective Combined Training Program on Motor Performances Balance and Muscle Strength in Boys with Down syndrome (DS)

Down syndrome is the most common chromosome abnormality and the most common genetic cause of intellectual disabilities in humans. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of a selective combined training program on motor performances, balance and muscle strength in boys with Down syndrome.
Twenty boys with Down syndrome aged ranged from 12 to 20 years were randomly assigned either into an experimental group (n=10) or control group (n=10). Subjects in the experimental group underwent combined training program for 45 and 60 minutes per day, 3 times a week, for 8 weeks. To evaluate the muscle strength and balance in subjects with Down syndrome, muscles force was measured with handheld dynamometer (MMT, North coast, USA) and balance with Sharped Romberg (r=0.90-0.91) with eyes both being open and close. Two-Way ANOVA with Repeated Measures was used to analyze the data (p≤0.05).
ANOVA with repeated measures showed that knee flexion strength (p≤0.05), Knee extension (p≤0.05),hip flexion (p≤0.05), hip extension (p≤0.05), ankle plantar flexion (p≤0.05), ankle dorsiflexion (p≤0.05), and also static balance with eyes open (hard surface) (p≤0.05) ,static balance with eyes being close (hard surface) (p≤0.05), static balance with eyes being open (the software) (p≤0.05), static balance with eyes being close (the software) (p≤0.05) of the intervention group was significantly better than the control group.
A combined strength and proprioceptive training improves postural balance in children with DS. This could be due to the enhancement in muscle strength and proprioceptive input integration.