Children With Down Syndrome - Physical Complications & What You Can Do About Them?
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Down Syndrome effects roughly 1 in 1200 Australians. It is a chromosomal condition characterized by an extra copy of the 21st chromosome. Diagnosis is made either prior to birth, or shortly after, by chromosomal testing.
“As recently as the 1950s, life expectancy for people with Down syndrome was as low as 15 years of age. In recent times, progress in medical and social sciences has very much improved the health and the quality of life enjoyed by people with Down syndrome. In Australia today, most people with Down syndrome will enjoy a long, happy and healthy life” (https://www.downsyndrome.org.au)
There are a variety of things that cause complications with children effected by Down Syndrome, including both mental and physical aspects. I’ll go into some of the physical complications and how you can help them at home, and how Physiotherapist or Occupational Therapist may be extremely beneficial in assisting families in managing the syndrome.
Vitamin D deficiency plagues children with Down Syndrome. Vit D deficiency causes complications with bone mass density and bone growth. In later life, this can lead to osteoporosis and fractures due to the fragility of the bone material. Adequate exposure to sunlight to enhance Vit D absorption and uptake is vital in children and adults with Down Syndrome to assist in this complication. Vitamin D deficiency has also been linked to some mental health issues, which in theory can further complicate some of the mental impairments that Down Syndrome impacts.
Some ideas to assist with bone mass include;
- Regular and sensible sun exposure
- Walking to assist with bone density
- Exercising with weights
- Vit D supplements (prescribed by your doctor)
Children with Down Syndrome are also affected by ligamentous laxity, and as a result have many issues to do with their musculoskeletal system. They learn to walk by turning their legs out, and hold their knees and joints stiff. The reason for this is the joint laxity, which they combat through gait changes. This leads to other complications with their joint and bone health in later life due to poor biomechanics.
With regards to posture, they often posteriorly tilt their pelvis, which leads to rounded shoulders, and an extended neck, whereby the head and neck is held into extension to avoid muscle fatigue.
With all of these things going on, it is no wonder they can be in a lot of pain! It is vital to look at the body as one complete unit, and then break down the different components taking into account for what effect it might have above and below the area.
Posture retraining through involvement in games to extend the posture and elongate the spine assists to naturally strengthen the spine to avoid postural issues. Avoiding games whereby the spine is flexed and curved, accentuating the curvature is necessary to help with spinal strength.
Some ideas for games to play to extend the spine would be;
- Dancing
- Basketball
- Throwing and Catching
- Star Jumps
Maintaining flexibility and strength in the lower limbs through a variety of different exercises would also be considered a wonderful intervention. Exercises such as;
- Soccer
- Running
- Jumping, Frog jumps
- Skipping
- Hopping
As Physiotherapists and Occupational Therapists, we assist with the treatment of Down Syndrome by formulating strategies to assist families improve the overall quality of life, pain reduction and function that their family member may achieve. There is no one size fits all approach, and tailoring something that is of interest to your loved one is the most important remedy!
If you have any questions, or want to find out more, give one of our dedicated team members a call on 1300 731 733 and we can arrange a time to come out and meet with you and your family to discuss how we can help.
As always, we want all of our clients, who become part of our family, to Live a Life With Less Limits!
Visit our Physio Inq website here for more information on our allied and mobile healthcare services across Australia
This article was originally written by Physio Inq
Share the article
Recent Posts
- Clipless Pedals Part 1 | Why Use Clipless Pedals
- Why Exercise Is Great For Your Mental Health
- Long Distance Swimming Tips
- The 7 Best Stretches For Tennis Players
- Third Trimester Pain and Weakness
- Can I Exercise During Early Pregnancy?
- How Does Chronic Pain Affect the Brain?
- What Can Cause Speech Problems in Adults?
- How to Manage Common Cricket Injuries
- How To Prevent Neck Pain While Riding A Motorcycle? 5 Important Tips
Categories
Tags
- Abdominal muscles (1)
- Abdominal pain (1)
- Abdominal separation (1)
- Abdominal separation exercises (1)
- Abdominal separation pain (1)
- Abdominal separation pregnancy (1)
- Abdominal separation symptoms (1)
- Abdominal separation test (1)
- academic performance (1)
- Achilles Tendonitis (1)
- ACL (2)
- ACL injury (2)
- Acupuncture (1)
- Acute injury (1)
- Acute spinal pain (1)
- Adaptive Equipment (1)
- AFL (1)
- Afl concussion (1)
- Aged Care (2)
- Allograft (1)
- Alzheimers (1)
- Ankle (4)
- Ankle Rehabilitation (1)
- Ankle Sprain (1)
- Ankle Sprain Grade (1)
- Ankle Sprain Recovery (1)
- Ankle Sprain Soccer (1)
- Ankle Sprain Taping (1)
- Ankle Sprain Treatment (1)
- Ankle Sprains (1)
- Anterior Cruciate Ligament (2)
- Arthritis (1)
- Autism (1)
- Back (1)
- Back Pain (3)
- Ballet (1)
- Baseball (1)
- Basketball injuries (1)
- Basketball injuries list (1)
- Basketball injury (1)
- Basketball injury prevention (1)
- Basketball knee (1)
- Basketball shoes (1)
- Bike fit (3)
- Bike fit physio (2)
- Bike fit Sydney (2)
- Bike fitting (2)
- bike seat height (1)
- Bike seat height adjustment (1)
- Bike seat height calculator (1)
- Bladder leakage (1)
- bone density (1)
- Bursitis (3)
- Bursitis shoulder (1)
- Bursitis shoulder causes (1)
- Bursitis shoulder exercises (1)
- Bursitis shoulder treatment (1)
- Calf Muscle (1)
- Carpal Tunnel (1)
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (1)
- Casting (1)
- Causes Shoulder pain (1)
- Cerebral Palsy (1)
- Charley horse (1)
- Charlie horses (1)
- Cheer (1)
- Cheerleader (1)
- Cheerleading (1)
- Cheerleading in Australia (1)
- Cheerleading in Sydney (1)
- Cheerleading injuries (1)
- Cheerleading injury (1)
- Cheerleading Sydney (1)
- Children Injuries (1)
- Children Sport (2)
- Children Sports Injuries (1)
- chin ups (1)
- Christmas (1)
- chronic disease (1)
- Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (1)
- Chronic Pain (1)
- City2Surf (1)
- Clip-in pedals (1)
- Clipless cleats (1)
- Clipless pedals (1)
- Clipless shoes (1)
- Coffee (2)
- Common basketball injuries (1)
- concussion (1)
- Concussion AFL (1)
- Concussion afl 2018 (1)
- Concussion afl player (1)
- Concussion recovery (1)
- Concussion rehab (1)
- Concussion rehabilitation (1)
- Concussion return to sport (1)
- Concussions (1)
- Controlled Articular Rotations (1)
- Core (1)
- Cork leg (1)
- Cork thigh (1)
- Corked (1)
- Corked calf (1)
- Corked leg (1)
- Corked leg muscle (1)
- Corked leg recovery (1)
- Corked leg symptoms (1)
- Corked leg treatment (1)
- Corked meaning (1)
- Corked muscle (1)
- Corked quad (1)
- Corked thigh (2)
- Corky (1)
- Corky injury (1)
- corticosteroid injection (2)
- Corticosteroid Injections (1)
- Cortisone (2)
- cortisone injection (2)
- cortisone injection elbow (2)
- cortisone injection shoulder (2)
- cortisone injection tendon (2)
- cortisone shot (2)
- Cricket (1)
- Cross Training (1)
- Crossfit (2)
- Crossfit Injuries (1)
- Cycling (1)
- cycling economy (1)
- cycling efficiency (1)
- cycling endurance (1)
- cycling exercises (1)
- Cycling physio (2)
- Cycling physio near me (2)
- Cycling physio Sydney (2)
- Cycling posture (2)
- Cycling seat height (1)
- Cycling seat position (1)
- Cycling seat too high (1)
- Cycling tips (2)
- cycling training (1)
- cyclist exercises (1)
- Dead leg (1)
- Dementia (3)
- Diastasis recti (1)
- Down Syndrome (1)
- Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (1)
- dynamic stretching (3)
- Ear Barotrauma (1)
- Ear Pain (1)
- Early Intervention (1)
- ECU tendon (1)
- Engadine Community Markets (1)
- Engadine Night Markets (1)
- Engadine Town Centre (1)
- Epilepsy (1)
- Ergonomics (1)
- Exercise (6)
- exercise at home (1)
- Exercise during pregnancy (1)
- Exercise during pregnancy benefits (1)
- Exercise during pregnancy guidelines (1)
- exercise for brain health (1)
- exercise for kids (1)
- Exercise Injuries (1)
- Exercise Physiology (2)
- Exercise right (1)
- Exercise right for doctors (1)
- Exercise right week (1)
- Exercising with osteoporosis (1)
- Exos Cast (1)
- falls prevention (2)
- feet health (1)
- Fibromyalgia (2)
- FIFA 11 (1)
- FIFA 11 ACL injury prevention (1)
- FIFA 11 injury prevention (1)
- FIFA 11 injury prevention poster (1)
- FIFA 11 injury prevention program (1)
- FIFA 11 injury prevention programme (1)
- FIFA 11 plus (1)
- FIFA 11 warm up (1)
- FIFA 11+ (1)
- FIFA 11+ injury prevention (1)
- FIFA 11+ injury prevention poster (1)
- FIFA 11+ injury prevention program (1)
- FIFA 11+ injury prevention programme (1)
- FIFA 11+ kids (1)
- FIFA 11+ manual (1)
- FIFA 11+ poster (1)
- FIFA 11+ program (1)
- FIFA 11+ warm up (1)
- Fitness (3)
- Fitness Apps (1)
- Flexibility (1)
- Foam Rolling (1)
- Football injury prevention (1)
- Footware (1)
- Forehand grip (1)
- Forehand technique (1)
- Forehand tennis (1)
- Fracture (1)
- Free Weights (1)
- Functional fitness exercises (1)
- Functional fitness training (1)
- Functional training (1)
- Gamer’s Thumb (1)
- get better grades (1)
- Golf (1)
- Gourmet Outdoor Kitchen (1)
- Gym (1)
- Half Marathon (1)
- half squat (1)
- Hamstring (4)
- Hamstring Injuries (1)
- Hamstring strain (1)
- Hamstring Strains (1)
- Hamstring Tendon Graft (1)
- Hamstrings (1)
- hand therapy (1)
- Head Injuries (1)
- Health (8)
- health benefits of exercise (1)
- Health Tips (2)
- Heat Exhaustion (1)
- Heat Stroke (1)
- heel pain (1)
- heel pain in kids (1)
- heel pain reason (1)
- heel pain treatment (1)
- hip flexor (1)
- hip flexor pain (1)
- hip flexor stretches (1)
- hip pain causes (1)
- Hip pain cycling (1)
- Hip Resurfacing (1)
- How do you fit a bike? (2)
- How to manage acute injury (1)
- Hydration (1)
- Hyperkyphosis Disease (1)
- increase cycling stamina (1)
- Injuries (4)
- Injury care (1)
- Injury management (1)
- Injury Prevention (1)
- Injury recovery (1)
- intermuscular contusion (1)
- intramuscular contusion (1)
- Is it worth getting a bike fit? (1)
- ITB friction syndrome (1)
- ITB muscle (1)
- ITB pain (1)
- ITB syndrome (1)
- Jammed finger (1)
- Javelin (1)
- Jet Lag (1)
- Joint Health (1)
- Joints (1)
- Kinetic link principle (1)
- Kinetic link principle example (1)
- Kinetic link training (1)
- Knee (2)
- Knee injury (1)
- knee oa (1)
- knee oa exercise program (1)
- knee oa exercises (1)
- knee osteoarthritis (1)
- knee osteoarthritis exercises (1)
- knee osteoarthritis risk factors (1)
- knee osteoarthritis treatment (1)
- Knee Pain (9)
- knee pain causes (1)
- Knee pain cycling (1)
- Knee problems (1)
- Knee program (1)
- Knee protection (1)
- Lateral Knee Pain (1)
- lchf (1)
- lchf Australia (1)
- lchf endurance (1)
- lchf recipes (1)
- lchf snacks (1)
- low carb diet (1)
- low carb high fat (1)
- low carb high fat breakfast (1)
- low carb high fat diet (1)
- low carb high fat foods (1)
- low carb high fat snacks (1)
- low carb recipes (1)
- low sugar diet (1)
- Machine Weights (1)
- Mallet finger (1)
- Maximal Strength (1)
- MCL pain (1)
- Medicare (1)
- Mental Health (2)
- Metabolism (1)
- Motor Neurone Disease (1)
- Motorcycle (1)
- Muscle contusion (1)
- Myofascial lines and functional training (1)
- Myofascial lines of the body (1)
- Myofascial release training (1)
- Myofascial sling exercises (1)
- NDIS (7)
- NDIS Funding (1)
- NDIS Plan Management (1)
- NDIS Support Coordination (1)
- Neck Pain (3)
- Neck pain headache (1)
- Netball (1)
- Netball Australia (1)
- Netball injuries (2)
- Netball NSW (1)
- Netball physical training (1)
- Netball physio (1)
- Netball physiology (1)
- Netball physiotherapist (1)
- night markets (1)
- Nutrition (6)
- Occupational Therapy (8)
- Osgood Schlatter (1)
- Osgood Schlatter disease (1)
- Osgood Schlatter in adults (1)
- Osgood Schlatter taping (1)
- Osgood Schlatter treatment (1)
- Osgood Schlatters taping (1)
- Osgood Schlatters treatment (1)
- Osgood-Schlatter (1)
- Osteoarthritis (3)
- Osteopenia (1)
- osteoporosis (3)
- osteoporosis prevention (1)
- osteoporosis reversal (1)
- osteoporosis treatment (2)
- Pain in the back of your head (1)
- Pain in the neck and back (1)
- Pain in the neck and shoulders (1)
- Pars Defect (1)
- Patellar tendonitis (1)
- Patellar Tracking Disorder (1)
- Peace and love injury (1)
- Peace protocol (1)
- Pelvic Floor (1)
- Pelvic floor exercises for women (1)
- Pelvic floor physio (1)
- Pelvic girdle pain (1)
- Pelvic Pain (1)
- Physical Activity (1)
- physical activity for children (1)
- physical activity for kids (1)
- physical activity guidelines (1)
- physically active (1)
- physically active play (1)
- Physio bike fit (2)
- Physio bike fit Sydney (2)
- Physio pregnancy (1)
- Physiotherapy (5)
- Pilates (1)
- Plantar fasciitis (1)
- podiatrist (1)
- Posture (1)
- Pregnancy (4)
- Pregnancy and exercise (1)
- Pregnancy and exercise guidelines (1)
- Pregnancy exercise (1)
- Pregnancy physio (1)
- Prehab (1)
- Professional bike fitting (2)
- pull ups (1)
- Quad contusion (1)
- Quervain’s Disease (1)
- Quervain’s Tenosynovitis (1)
- real food (1)
- real food culture (1)
- Rheumatoid Arthritis (2)
- Rib pain pregnancy (1)
- Rice injury (1)
- Rice injury management (1)
- road cycling (1)
- Rolled ankle (1)
- Rotator Cuff (2)
- Rugby League (3)
- Runners (3)
- Runners Knee (2)
- running (9)
- Running knee (1)
- Running knee pain (1)
- Saddle height calculator (1)
- Saddle height cycling (1)
- Saddle height inseam (1)
- Saddle seat (1)
- Scheuermann’s Disease (1)
- School Bag (1)
- School Bags (1)
- School Tips (1)
- Scoliosis (1)
- Seat post adjustment (1)
- Seatpost adjust angle (1)
- severs disease (2)
- severs disease taping (1)
- severs disease treatment (1)
- Shin Splints (1)
- Shoes (2)
- Shoulder (4)
- Shoulder bursitis (1)
- Shoulder Bursitis causes (1)
- Shoulder bursitis exercises (1)
- Shoulder bursitis injection (1)
- Shoulder bursitis test (1)
- Shoulder bursitis treatment (1)
- Shoulder Injuries (2)
- Shoulder Instability (3)
- Shoulder Pain (3)
- Shoulder Rehab (1)
- Shoulder Stability (1)
- Sinus Pain (1)
- skiing (1)
- skiing injuries (1)
- Sleeping (1)
- snowboarding (1)
- snowboarding injuries (2)
- Soccer (2)
- Soccer Injury (1)
- Soccer injury prevention (1)
- Soccer injury prevention program (1)
- Socks (1)
- Soft tissue injury (1)
- Sore neck (1)
- Speech Pathologist (1)
- Speech Pathology (3)
- Speech Therapist (1)
- Speech Therapy (3)
- Spina Bifida (1)
- Spondylolysis (1)
- Sports Injuries (2)
- Sprained Ankle (1)
- Sprinting (1)
- Sprinting Prehab (1)
- squats (1)
- static stretching (2)
- stress fractures (2)
- Stress Fractures Foot (1)
- stretch before exercise (1)
- stretch before gym (1)
- stretch before run (1)
- stretch during workput (1)
- Stretch Marks (1)
- Stretching (2)
- Subacromial bursitis (1)
- Surfing (2)
- Swimming (4)
- tendinitis (2)
- tendinopathy (2)
- Tendinosis (1)
- tendon injection (2)
- Tendon injuries (1)
- tendon sheath injection (2)
- Tennis (2)
- Tennis elbow (1)
- Tennis racquet grip (1)
- Tennis strokes (1)
- Tennis wrist pain (1)
- Tension Neck Syndrome (1)
- The Brain (1)
- Third Trimester (1)
- Third Trimester pain (1)
- tight hip flexors (1)
- tight hip flexors cause (1)
- tight hip flexors exercises (1)
- tight hip muscles (1)
- Tips (6)
- Triathlon (1)
- Trigger finger (1)
- Upper back pain (1)
- Upper back pain pregnancy (1)
- Volleyball (1)
- warm-up stretches (1)
- Weights (1)
- why does a child need physical activity (1)
- Womens (1)
- Womens Health (6)
- Womens health physio (2)
- Womens health physio sydney (2)
- Womens health physiotherapy (2)
- Womens Physiotherapy (1)
- Womens Sport (1)
- Work Productivity (1)
- Working from home tips (1)
- Workplace (1)
- Wrist Injuries (1)
- Wrist pain (1)
- Yoga (2)