The Effect of Functional Training on Reaching to Objects with Different Shapes and Sizes in a 6-Year-Old Girl with Down Syndrome

Document Type : Original article

Authors

1 MSc in Motor Behavior, Shahid Behashti University, Tehran, Iran

2 2. Motor Behavior Department, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran

3 Department of Sport Sciences, Imam Hossein University, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Background and Aim: Functional training is becoming a more practical method to improve muscular fitness in people with mental disability. The purpose of the present study was to determine the effect of functional training on the speed of wrist and total movement time of reaching to objects with different shapes (cylinder, cube, and pyramid) and different sizes (small, medium, and large) in a six-years old girl with Down Syndrome.
Material and Methods: The current study is a single subject experimental study. One girl with down syndrome with no physical or motor disorder was introduced by Down Syndrome Association (age: six years old) participated in the study. The participant was selected based on availablity sampling. The pretest and posttest of reaching to objects with different shapes and sizes were recorded using motion analysis device. The participant took part in 24 sessions of functional training of eye-hand coordination program, each lasting about 60 minutes (five days a week). Each session of training consisted of three 15-minute parts with five-minute breaks.
Result: The mean of the movement time of reaching to medium cylinder was lower (MT=1200.17) and the effect size (D= 0.89) was higher than those of the other shapes and sizes. The mean of the velocity of reaching to medium cylinder was higher (V=596.83) and the effect size (D= 0.94) was higher than those of other shapes and sizes. The mean of movement time and velocity in the posttest showed that the subject had better performance compared with pretest performance.
Conclusion: The results revealed that the functional training decreased movement time and increased the speed of reaching. These findings support previous results stating that task-oriented training, with respect to the principle of specificity of training, promotes movement patterns in individuals with Down Syndrome.

Keywords

Main Subjects


  1. Afrouz gh. Ravanshenasi va tavanbakhshi houdakane mobtala be sandrome down (Mongolism). 3rd ed. Tehran: tehran; 2000. P. 13- 45.[In persian]##
  2. Charlton J, L E Ihsen, J Oxley. Kinematic characteristics of reaching in children with Down syndrome. Human Movement Science. 1996;15(5):727-743.##
  3. Nadkarni S, D Ashok. Enhancing Eye-Hand Coordination with Therapy Intervention to Improve Visual-Spatial Abilities using ‘The Re-training Approach’in Children with Down Syndrome: Three Cases Studies.Disability, CBR & Inclusive Development. 2012;23(2):107-120.##
  4. Uyanik, M G Bumin, H kayihan. Comparison of different therapy approaches in children with Down syndrome. Pediatrics international. 2003;45(1):68-73.##
  5. Schmitd Richard A. Motor control and learning: a behavioral emphasis. 1st ed. tehran: elm va harekat; 2011. P. 207- 215. [In persian]##
  6. Moss S, J Hogg. Development of hand function in mentally handicapped and nonhandicapped preschool children. knowledge in mental retardation. 1981; 9(2): 10–15##
  7. Aparicio, T S, J M Balaña.A study of early fine motor intervention in Down’s syndrome children. Early Child Development and Care. 2009;179(5):631-636.##
  8. M Mon Williams, J.R Tresilian, V.E Bell, V.L Coppard, A Jobling, R.G Carson. The preparation of reach to grasp movements in adults with Downsyndrome.Human movement science. 2001;20(4):587-602.##
  9. 9.AC de campos, NACF Rocha, G J Savelsbergh.Development of reaching and grasping skills in infants with Down syndrome.Research in developmental disabilities. 2010;31(1):70-80.##
  10. TS Aparicio, JM Balana.A study of early fine motor intervention in Down’s syndrome children. Early Child Development and Care.2009; 20(2): 7-12.##
  11. Roy EA.Neuropsychological perspectives on apraxia and related action disorders. Advances in psychology. 1983;12 (4):293-320.##
  12. M Clark, S Lucett, DT Kirkendall, NASM's essentials of sports performance training. 1st ed. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. 2010. P. 18-32.##
  13. Weiss T, Kreitinger J, Wilde H, Wiora C, Steege M, Dalleck L, Janot J.Effect of functional resistance training on muscular fitness outcomes in young adult. Exerc Sci Fit. 2010;12(2):113–122.##
  14. Nouri F. Afrouz GH.asarate amouzeshhaye avaliye tahavoli khanevade mehvar, bar roshde harekatiye koudakane daraye nashanegane down. Ravanshenasi va oluome tarbiyati; 1378. 38: P.7-9. [In persian]##
  15. Eysenk HJ. Case studies in behavior therapy. 2nd ed. behavior therapy; 1987. P.83-92.##
  16. Specter A, Thorgrimsen L, Woods B, Royan L, Davies S, Butterworth M, Orrell M. Efficacy of anevidence-based cognitive stimulation therapy program for people with dementiarandomized controlled trial  psychiatry. 2003; 183:248-254.##
  17. AbrisquetaGomez J, Canali F, Viera VLD, Aguiar ACP, Ponce CSC, Burki SM, et. al. A longitudinal study of a neuropsychological rehabilitation program in Alzheimer's disease.ArqNeuropsiquiatr. 2004; 62(3-B):778-783.##
  18. Saavedra S, joshi A, Woollacott, donkelaar P.Eye hand coordination in children with cerebral palsy. Experimental brain research, 2009;192(2): P. 155-165.##
  19. Amini M, dolatshahi B, dadkhah A, lotfi M. Asare tavanbakhshi; dar kahashe naghayese ahenakhtiye salmandane mobtala be demanse alzaymer. Salmand; 1389.[In persian]##
  20. Wing, AM, Turton A, Fraser C. Grasp size and accuracy of approach in reaching. motor behavior. 1986;18(3): p. 245-260.##
  21. Ager CL, Olivett BL, Johnson CL, Grasp and pinch strength in children 5 to 12 years old. occupational therapy. 1984;38(2): p. 107-113.##
  22. Desai SS. Down syndrome: a review of the literature.Elsevier. 1997;84(3): P. 279-285.##
  23. Ruiz R Cabeza, Garcia- masso X, Centeno- Prada RA.Time and frequency analysis of the static balance in young adults with Down syndrome. Gait & posture, 2011; 33(1): p. 23-28.##
  24. El-Meniawy, G.H., H.M. Kamal, and S.A. Elshemy, Role of treadmill training versus suspension therapy on balance in children with Down syndrome. Egyptian Journal of Medical Human Genetics, 2012. 13(1): p. 37-43.##
  25. Marteniuk RG, Mackenzie CL.Constraints on human arm movement trajectories.Psychology/Revue canadienne de psychologie, 1987. 41(3): p. 365.##
  26. Marteniuk RG, Leavitt JK, Mackenizie CL.Functional relationships between grasp and transport components in a prehension task. Human Movement Science, 1990;9(2): p. 149-176.##
  27. Connolly BH, Michael BT.Performance of retarded children, with and without Down syndrome, on the Bruininks Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency. Physical Therapy. 1986;66(3): p. 344-348##
Volume 5, Issue 4
January and February 2017
Pages 107-119
  • Receive Date: 30 May 2015
  • Revise Date: 24 January 2016
  • Accept Date: 30 January 2016
  • First Publish Date: 21 December 2016