Psychomotor development in children with Down syndrome is affected in both the motor and the mental component. Motor development in a child with Down syndrome typically involves a delay in the attainment of the gross motor milestones achieved during the first year in nonimpaired children, such as standing, sitting, crawling, reaching, rolling and walking. Furthermore, alterations may appear in fine motor development, visual motor control, speed, muscle strength, and static and dynamic balance.
Motor development is hindered to a large extent by hypotonia and ligament laxity and by constitutional problems such as shortness of the upper and lower limbs in relation to the trunk. Another reason for delayed acquisition of motor items can be DS-related medical problems, such as heart, stomach, intestine and respiratory problems, and ear canal infections.
Frequently, people with Down syndrome show alterations in their locomotor system due to an association of more or less pronounced muscle hypotonia and joint laxity. Joint instability increases because joint soft tissues are less functional. As a result, joints which undergo a more continuous load (hips, knees, feet) or are subject to great mobility (atlantoaxial joint) tend to be more affected.
Presented as an oral paper at the following meetings:
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6th International Symposium on Down Syndrome Specificity, Palma de Mallorca. February 2005.
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I Congreso de Fisioterapia Pediátrica, Madrid. October 2005.