Role of treadmill training versus suspension therapy on balance in children with Down syndrome

Abstract

Background and purpose: Maintaining balance is a subordinate but necessary requirement for most human actions. Most Down syndrome (DS) children, who constitute a large portion in our country, continue to evidence deficits in balance, co-ordination, and gait throughout childhood and adulthood. So, it is essential to seek an ideal physical therapy program to help in solving such a widespread problem. The present study was conducted to compare between the effect of treadmill training and suspension therapy on balance in children with DS.
Subjects and methods: Thirty children born with DS from both sexes ranging in age from eight to ten years old were assigned into two groups of equal number. Study group I received treadmill training in addition to a designed exercises therapy program and study group II received suspension therapy in addition to the same exercises program given to the study group I. Stability indices were evaluated via using Biodex instrument system before and after three months of treatment.
Results: The results revealed no significant difference when comparing the pre-treatment mean values of the two groups (study I and study II), while significant improvement was observed in all the measuring variables of the two groups when comparing their pre and post treatment mean values. Significant difference was also observed when comparing the post treatment results of the two groups in favor of the study group II.
Conclusion: Suspension therapy for children with DS is an excellent supplement to regularly scheduled physical therapy intervention for the purpose of improving the degree of stability in those patients.

Keywords: Down syndrome; Balance; Treadmill; Suspension therapy