Effects of Rhythmic Aerobic Exercises on Functional Balance in Children With Down Syndrome

Down syndrome (DS) is the most commonly occurring chromosomal condition and it affects more than 400,000 people in the United States. The chances of having a child with DS increases as the mother ages. DS is a chromosomal disorder characterized by trisomy 21. These alterations are responsible for motor and cognitive development delay, due to abnormalities on the maturation of the central nervous system. DS presents generalized muscle hypotonia which interferes in motor coordination and postural reactions leading to changes in balance. Rhythmic aerobic exercises for people with intellectual disability are helpful. In these exercises body's large muscles move in a rhythmic manner for a sustained period of time. The aim of this study is to determine the effect of rhythmic aerobic exercises for improving functional balance in children with DS.

This will be a randomized controlled trial study. Study will be approved by ethical committee. After that informed consent will be taken and patients will be included in the study based on the inclusion criteria. 40 patients will be divided into two groups, interventions will be performed for 50 minutes per session twice a week for total of 8 weeks; In experimental group, rhythmic aerobic exercises will be performed. The rhythmic training group initially used rhythmic auditory stimulation with 8 beats, then progressed to 16 beats per minutes. In control group, strength and balance exercises will be performed. Functional balance of the patient will be assessed by checking the quality of Sit-to-stand and Stand to-Sit on the respective sections of Pediatric Balance Scale and Time Up and Go test. Data will be analyzed using SPSS 25. Mean and standard deviation will be calculated. Both groups will be compared by appropriate test.