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The Effect of Vestibular Stimulation Exercises on Balance, Coordination, and Agility in Children with Down Syndrome

Received: 30 April 2018     Accepted: 15 May 2018     Published: 31 May 2018
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Abstract

Background. Children with Down syndrome (DS) demonstrate vestibular, sensory, motor and perceptual impairments which manifests as decreased levels of balance, strength, and motor coordination. Together these issues may decrease functional ability leading to more sedentary lifestyles. Use of vestibular stimulation therapy has been attempted to assist in improving motor control and balance in this population. Objective. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of a vestibular stimulation exercise program on balance, coordination and agility in children with DS. Methods. Seventeen children with DS were recruited from two summer enrichment programs and were divided into two groups based on age (group 1: 9.9 yrs ±2.8; group 2: 18.4 yrs. ±1.7). Assessments were completed using BOT2 subtests for balance, bilateral and upper limb coordination, and agility prior to and after six weeks of twice weekly vestibular stimulation exercises. Results. Both groups showed improvement in upper limb coordination and agility, while group 2 demonstrated improvement in one of the balance subtests. Conclusion. These results suggest a vestibular stimulation exercise program could increase balance and agility in children with DS and possibly assist in increasing their functional ability.

Published in American Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience (Volume 6, Issue 2)
DOI 10.11648/j.ajpn.20180602.11
Page(s) 28-32
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2018. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Down Syndrome, Vestibular Stimulation, Balance, Agility, BOT2

References
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  • APA Style

    Kathy Carter, Sarah Sunderman, Stefanie Wooten Burnett. (2018). The Effect of Vestibular Stimulation Exercises on Balance, Coordination, and Agility in Children with Down Syndrome. American Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, 6(2), 28-32. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajpn.20180602.11

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    ACS Style

    Kathy Carter; Sarah Sunderman; Stefanie Wooten Burnett. The Effect of Vestibular Stimulation Exercises on Balance, Coordination, and Agility in Children with Down Syndrome. Am. J. Psychiatry Neurosci. 2018, 6(2), 28-32. doi: 10.11648/j.ajpn.20180602.11

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    AMA Style

    Kathy Carter, Sarah Sunderman, Stefanie Wooten Burnett. The Effect of Vestibular Stimulation Exercises on Balance, Coordination, and Agility in Children with Down Syndrome. Am J Psychiatry Neurosci. 2018;6(2):28-32. doi: 10.11648/j.ajpn.20180602.11

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ajpn.20180602.11,
      author = {Kathy Carter and Sarah Sunderman and Stefanie Wooten Burnett},
      title = {The Effect of Vestibular Stimulation Exercises on Balance, Coordination, and Agility in Children with Down Syndrome},
      journal = {American Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience},
      volume = {6},
      number = {2},
      pages = {28-32},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ajpn.20180602.11},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajpn.20180602.11},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajpn.20180602.11},
      abstract = {Background. Children with Down syndrome (DS) demonstrate vestibular, sensory, motor and perceptual impairments which manifests as decreased levels of balance, strength, and motor coordination. Together these issues may decrease functional ability leading to more sedentary lifestyles. Use of vestibular stimulation therapy has been attempted to assist in improving motor control and balance in this population. Objective. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of a vestibular stimulation exercise program on balance, coordination and agility in children with DS. Methods. Seventeen children with DS were recruited from two summer enrichment programs and were divided into two groups based on age (group 1: 9.9 yrs ±2.8; group 2: 18.4 yrs. ±1.7). Assessments were completed using BOT2 subtests for balance, bilateral and upper limb coordination, and agility prior to and after six weeks of twice weekly vestibular stimulation exercises. Results. Both groups showed improvement in upper limb coordination and agility, while group 2 demonstrated improvement in one of the balance subtests. Conclusion. These results suggest a vestibular stimulation exercise program could increase balance and agility in children with DS and possibly assist in increasing their functional ability.},
     year = {2018}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - The Effect of Vestibular Stimulation Exercises on Balance, Coordination, and Agility in Children with Down Syndrome
    AU  - Kathy Carter
    AU  - Sarah Sunderman
    AU  - Stefanie Wooten Burnett
    Y1  - 2018/05/31
    PY  - 2018
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajpn.20180602.11
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ajpn.20180602.11
    T2  - American Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience
    JF  - American Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience
    JO  - American Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience
    SP  - 28
    EP  - 32
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2330-426X
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajpn.20180602.11
    AB  - Background. Children with Down syndrome (DS) demonstrate vestibular, sensory, motor and perceptual impairments which manifests as decreased levels of balance, strength, and motor coordination. Together these issues may decrease functional ability leading to more sedentary lifestyles. Use of vestibular stimulation therapy has been attempted to assist in improving motor control and balance in this population. Objective. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of a vestibular stimulation exercise program on balance, coordination and agility in children with DS. Methods. Seventeen children with DS were recruited from two summer enrichment programs and were divided into two groups based on age (group 1: 9.9 yrs ±2.8; group 2: 18.4 yrs. ±1.7). Assessments were completed using BOT2 subtests for balance, bilateral and upper limb coordination, and agility prior to and after six weeks of twice weekly vestibular stimulation exercises. Results. Both groups showed improvement in upper limb coordination and agility, while group 2 demonstrated improvement in one of the balance subtests. Conclusion. These results suggest a vestibular stimulation exercise program could increase balance and agility in children with DS and possibly assist in increasing their functional ability.
    VL  - 6
    IS  - 2
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Department of Health and Sport Science, University of Louisville, Louisville, USA

  • Department of Health and Sport Science, University of Louisville, Louisville, USA

  • Department of Health and Sport Science, University of Louisville, Louisville, USA

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