Nov. 06' : Motor development in children with Down syndrome and associated osteoarticular pathology.
Inmaculada Riquelme Agulló1, Beatriz Manzanal González2
1Escuela de Enfermería y Fisioterapia. Universitat de les Illes Balears.
2Centro de Desarrollo Infantil y Atención Precoz del Maresme.
Correspondence:
Inmaculada Riquelme Agulló.
Escuela de Enfermería y Fisioterapia.
Universitat de les Illes Balears.
Edificio Beatriz de Pinós.
Ctra. Valldemossa km 7,5.
07122 Palma de Mallorca (Spain).
Article received: 12.05.06
Summary
In the population of children with Down Syndrome (DS), some motor patterns used more frequently can be found. The characteristics of the child with DS, such as hypotonia, joint instability, shortness of the limbs related to the length of the trunk and his neuropsychological alterations, have made him repeat motor patterns which are functional but not the most adequate. Despite the fact that these patterns are not limited exclusively to the children with DS and may be found in the normal development of other children, its repetition can sometimes produce alterations in the muscle-skeletal system. Precocious Physiotherapy helps the prevention and treatment of the possible muscle-skeletal pathology and stimulates a proper psychomotor development of the child with DS.
Key words: Development. Down Syndrome. Hypotonia. Joint instability. Psychomotor disorders.
1Escuela de Enfermería y Fisioterapia. Universitat de les Illes Balears.
2Centro de Desarrollo Infantil y Atención Precoz del Maresme.
Correspondence:
Inmaculada Riquelme Agulló.
Escuela de Enfermería y Fisioterapia.
Universitat de les Illes Balears.
Edificio Beatriz de Pinós.
Ctra. Valldemossa km 7,5.
07122 Palma de Mallorca (Spain).
Article received: 12.05.06
Summary
In the population of children with Down Syndrome (DS), some motor patterns used more frequently can be found. The characteristics of the child with DS, such as hypotonia, joint instability, shortness of the limbs related to the length of the trunk and his neuropsychological alterations, have made him repeat motor patterns which are functional but not the most adequate. Despite the fact that these patterns are not limited exclusively to the children with DS and may be found in the normal development of other children, its repetition can sometimes produce alterations in the muscle-skeletal system. Precocious Physiotherapy helps the prevention and treatment of the possible muscle-skeletal pathology and stimulates a proper psychomotor development of the child with DS.
Key words: Development. Down Syndrome. Hypotonia. Joint instability. Psychomotor disorders.
