Health Benefits of Physical Therapy Interventions in Children Suffering from Down Syndrome. A Systematic Review

Abstract

Background: Down syndrome is associated with a spectrum of physical and developmental challenges that can impact an individual's quality of life. Physical therapy interventions are commonly employed to address these challenges, aiming to improve physical fitness, strength, and achievement of developmental milestones. However, the extent of their effectiveness is not uniformly documented. Objective: This systematic review sought to evaluate the comparative effectiveness of various physical therapy interventions versus no intervention or standard care in enhancing physical fitness, strength, and developmental milestones in individuals with Down syndrome. Methods: Adhering to PRISMA guidelines, a comprehensive search of electronic databases including PubMed, MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, Embase, and Google Scholar was conducted for studies published between January 2000 and December 2022. RCTs and pre-post test studies in English that focused on physical therapy interventions for Down syndrome were included. The PEDro scale was utilized for quality assessment. Data synthesis provided a qualitative summary of the intervention outcomes. Results: Nine studies met the inclusion criteria, with a total sample size of 327 individuals with Down syndrome. The review highlighted significant improvements in balance, muscle strength, motor skills, and cognitive function following various physical therapy interventions such as progressive resistance training, treadmill exercises, and the use of virtual reality. The duration of these interventions ranged from 6 weeks to 1 year, demonstrating both short- and long-term benefits. Conclusion: The review substantiates that physical therapy interventions offer considerable benefits in improving the health and developmental outcomes for individuals with Down syndrome. These findings underscore the importance of integrating targeted physical therapy into standard care practices. Nevertheless, further research is warranted to explore the long-term impact and to develop optimal intervention strategies.