Effect of Vestibular Stimulation Exercises on Motor Proficiency in Down Syndrome Children

Document Type : Original article

Authors

1 Master of Science in Sport Injuries and Corrective Exercises, Department of Corrective Exercises and Sports Injuries, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran

2 Professor of Physiotherapy, Department of Corrective Exercises and Sport Injuries, School of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran

3 Professor, Department of Sport Injury and Corrective Exercise, Faculty of Physical Education and Sports Sciences, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran

Abstract

Background and Aims:Down syndrome as a genetic disorder is one of the major causes of intellectual disability, which leads to delays in motor skill. Since dysplasia of the internal ear structure is common in these individuals, and internal ear abnormalities have been observed in about 75% of patients, the present study was conducted to investigate the effect of vestibular stimulation exercises on motor proficiency in Down syndrome children.
Materials and Methods:The statistical sample was 20 girl student’s with Down syndrome (age=10/2±2 years, height =125/1±9/4 cm, weight=32±5/8 kg, and BMI=20/5±3/5 kg/m2) who were randomly divided in to two groups. The intervention of the research, Mind in Motion Maze program, specifically aimed at vestibular stimulating in the form of the game, consisting of 15 exercise stations, performed 3 times per week for 8 weeks. Bruininks-Oseretsky test was used to assess motor Proficiency. Data analyses were conducted using SPSS, version 20. For all statistical tests, the level of significance was set at P ≤ 0.05 using two-way Analysis of Variance.
Results: The results of the study showed that at the end of the intervention period, there was a significant difference in the factors of running speed and agility (P ≤ 0.05), balance (P ≤ 0.05), bilateral coordination (P ≤ 0.05), Response speed (P ≤ 0.05), upper-limb speed and dexterity (P ≤ 0.05), and in total, gross motor skill (P ≤ 0.05) and fine motor skill (P ≤ 0.05) in the experimental group.
Conclusion: Assessment of motor proficiency in children with Down syndrome showed improvement in their motor abilities after eight weeks of vestibular stimulation exercises. According to the findings, it is recommended that vestibular stimulation exercises can help improve and increase the motor proficiency in children with Down Syndrome. However, more studies are needed to be able to conclude definitively.

Keywords

Main Subjects


1. Moore, G., et al., ACSM's Exercise Management for Persons with Chronic Diseases and Disabilities, 4E. 2016: Human Kinetics.##
2. BAHIRAEI, S. and H. DANESHMANDI, The Study of relationship between structural profiles and postural control in individual with Down syndrome. 2014. ##
3. Farin Soleimani, Z., Down syndrome: modern methods in care and treatment (1), 2011, University of Rehabilitation Sciences and Social Welfare. ##
4. Torr, J., et al., Aging in Down syndrome: Morbidity and mortality. Journal of Policy and Practice in Intellectual Disabilities, 2010. 7(1): p. 70-81. ##
5. Temple, V.A., G.C. Frey, and H.I. Stanish, Physical activity of adults with mental retardation: review and research needs. American Journal of Health Promotion, 2006. 21(1): p. 2-12. ##
6. Westendorp, M., et al., Are gross motor skills and sports participation related in children with intellectual disabilities? Research in developmental disabilities, 2011. 32(3): p. 1147-1153. ##
7. Harris, J.C., Intellectual disability: Understanding its development, causes, classification, evaluation, and treatment. 2006: Oxford University Press. ##
8. Jensen, E., Teaching with the brain in mind. Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development. Science Teachers Association, 1998. ##
9. Healy, J.M., Endangered Minds: Why Children Dont Think and What We Can Do About I. 2011: Simon and Schuster. ##
10. Berg, P., et al., Motor control outcomes following Nintendo Wii use by a child with Down syndrome. Pediatric Physical Therapy, 2012. 24(1): p. 78-84. ##
11. Schubert, M.C. and L.B. Minor, Vestibulo-ocular physiology underlying vestibular hypofunction. Physical therapy, 2004. 84(4): p. 373-385. ##
12. Galli, M., et al., Postural control in patients with Down syndrome. Disability and Rehabilitation, 2008. 30(17): p. 1274-1278. ##
13. Costa, A.C., An assessment of the vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) in persons with Down syndrome. Experimental brain research, 2011. 214(2): p. 199. ##
14. Intrapiromkul, J., et al., Inner ear anomalies seen on CT images in people with Down syndrome. Pediatric radiology, 2012. 42(12): p. 1449-1455. ##
15. Schnieders-Laber, D.T., Exploring second grade student engagement before and after MINDS-In-Motion, MAZE. 2011: Northern Kentucky University. ##
16.Uyanik M, Bumin G, Kayihan H. Comparison of different therapy approaches in children with Down syndrome. Pediatrics international. 2003 Feb;45(1):68-73. ##
17. Myers C. Minds-In-Motion maze handbook. Louisville. KY: Minds-In-Motion Press. 2012. ##
18. Angela Rose Bray. Minds-In-Motion Maze Movement Activities in the Regular Education Classroom. Bethel University. 2015##
19. Vidoni, C., D.J. Lorenz, and D.T. de Paleville, Incorporating a movement skill programme into a preschool daily schedule. Early Child Development and Care, 2014. 184(8): p. 1211-1222. ##
20. Sunderman, S., The effect of vestibular stimulation exercises on balance in children with Down syndrome. 2016. ##
21. Bruninks, R., Bruninks Oseretsky test of motor proficiency: Examiners manual. Minnesota: American Guidance Service, 1978. ##
22. Broadhead, G.D. and R.H. Bruininks, Childhood Motor Performance Traits on the Short Form Bruininks-Oseretsky Test (Special Populations). Physical Educator, 1982. 39(3): p. 149. ##
23. Wuang, Y.-P., Y.-H. Lin, and C.-Y. Su, Rasch analysis of the Bruininks–Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency-in intellectual disabilities. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 2009. 30(6): p. 1132-1144. ##
24. Wuang, Y.-P. and C.-Y. Su, Reliability and responsiveness of the Bruininks–Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency-in children with intellectual disability. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 2009. 30(5): p. 847-855. ##
25. Bradinova, I., S. Shopova, and E. Simeonov, Mental retardation in childhood: clinical and diagnostic profile in 100 children. Genetic counseling, 2005. 16(3): p. 239-248. ##
26. Haywood, K. and N. Getchell, Life Span Motor Development 6th Edition. 2014: Human kinetics. ##
27. Wolfe, P., Brain matters: Translating research into classroom practice. 2010: ASCD. ##
28. Carter, K., S. Sunderman, and S.W. Burnett, The Effect of Vestibular Stimulation Exercises on Balance, Coordination, and Agility in Children with Down Syndrome. American Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, 2018. 6(2): p. 28. ##
29. Rini, W., Increasing and reinforcement of motor-perceptual in children, Tehran: Danzheh press. ##
30. Simons, J., et al., Validity and reliability of the TGMD-2 in 7–10-year-old Flemish children with intellectual disability. Adapted physical activity quarterly, 2008. 25(1): p. 71-82. ##
31. Yukselen, A., et al., Effects of exercises for fundamental movement skills in mentally retarded children. Middle East Journal of Family Medicine, 2008. 6(5): p. 3-6. ##
32. Ziereis, S. and P. Jansen, Effects of physical activity on executive function and motor performance in children with ADHD. Research in developmental disabilities, 2015. 38: p. 181-191. ##
33. Clark, D.L. and F. Chee, Vestibular stimulation influence on motor development in infants. Science, 1977. 196(4295): p. 1228-1229. ##
34. Inoue, A., et al., Effect of vestibular dysfunction on the development of gross motor function in children with profound hearing loss. Audiology and Neurotology, 2013. 18(3): p. 143-151. ##
35. Visscher, C., et al., Motor profile of children with developmental speech and language disorders. Pediatrics, 2007. 120(1): p. e158-e163. ##
36. Wuang, Y.-P., et al., Effectiveness of virtual reality using Wii gaming technology in children with Down syndrome. Research in developmental disabilities, 2011. 32(1): p. 312-321. ##
37. Afrooz, G., Psychology and rehabilitation of children with Down syndrome. Tehran: Tehran University publishing, 2004. ##
38. Hardee JP, Fetters L. The effect of exercise intervention on daily life activities and social participation in individuals with Down syndrome: A systematic review. Research in developmental disabilities. 2017 Mar 1;62:81-103. ##
39. Mahy, J., et al., Identifying facilitators and barriers to physical activity for adults with Down syndrome. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 2010. 54(9): p. 795-805. ##
Volume 8, Issue 4
January 2020
Pages 257-268
  • Receive Date: 14 December 2018
  • Revise Date: 23 May 2019
  • Accept Date: 30 May 2019
  • First Publish Date: 22 December 2019