This randomized control study will investigate the health outcomes of adolescents with Down Syndrome who participate in a karate class as measured by ALPHA fitness testing and various PROMIS parent proxy questionnaires to assess participants mobility, physical activity, and overall affect.
Adolescents with Down syndrome suffer from a set of health problems including heart disease, sleep disturbances, and obesity. Their decreased cardiovascular fitness and exercise capacity limits their ability to perform activities of daily living. Exercise interventions in this population of children have been shown to improve muscle strength, balance, and cardiovascular fitness. Prior research has helped better define physical activity barriers in this population which include: requiring parental supervision, lack of accessible programs, seasonal activities and reduced physical skills of the child. Karate is an indoor activity that can be performed at different skill levels without parental involvement. The investigators hypothesize that adolescents with Down syndrome who participate in karate will show improved health outcomes compared to those who did not participate. Furthermore, the investigators hypothesize that the majority of participants will continue the activity outside of the research window. This randomized controlled trial will enroll 30 adolescents with Down syndrome. Participants will be randomly assigned to a 3 month karate program or the control group with no intervention. Measurements are taken at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months using validated ALPHA fitness testing and in addition parents will complete PROMIS questionnaires to assess overall participant's activity level, mobility, and generalized affect. An independent statistician will analyze the groups. This research will help physicians provide adolescents with Down syndrome appropriate recommendations for an individualized physical activity regimen that does not have similar limitations to other exercise programs.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
16
Participants will attend at least 20/24 PKSA karate classes over a 12 week period, completing standard karate training lessons. Participants will also be encouraged to practice on their own at home. • Participants must attend at LEAST 20/24 classes
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States
Balance
Will measure the length of time that participant can stand on one foot (up to 30 seconds)
Time frame: Measure difference between baseline and three months
20m shuttle run
Participants are to run between 2 lines, 20 m apart in time with an audio signal. The speed of the signal is increased by 0.5 km/h/min. The test finishes when the participant fails to reach the end lines concurrent with audio signals on 2 consecutive occasions (or when participant stops because of fatigue)
Time frame: Measure difference between baseline and three months
standing long jump
measure length of distance jumped from static position as part of Alpha Fitness Test
Time frame: Measure difference between baseline and three months
handgrip strength
Squeeze hand dynamometer as hard as possible for seconds. This will be repeated with both hands twice
Time frame: Measure difference between baseline and three months
tricep skin fold test
Width of skin fold test as measured with calipers as part of Alpha Fitness Test
Time frame: Measure difference between baseline and three months
waist circumference
Simple measure of waist circumference as part of Alpha Fitness Test
Time frame: Measure difference between baseline and three months
BMI
Calculation of body mass index by taking participants weight in kg divided by height in meters squared
Time frame: Measure difference between baseline and three months
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PROMIS Parent Proxy Mobility SF v.2.0 -
Parent completed questionnaire including eight questions that gauges parent confidence that their child could perform various mobility related tasks with "no trouble", "a little trouble", "some trouble", "a lot of trouble", or "not able to do"
Time frame: Measure difference between baseline and three months
PROMIS Parent Proxy Physical Activity SF v1.0
Parent completed questionnaire including eight questions that gauges parent's perception of how often their child was able to perform physical activity/exercise over the course of the seven days prior to completing the questionnaire
Time frame: Measure difference between baseline and three months
PROMIS Parent Proxy Positive Affect SF v1.0
Parent completed questionnaire including eight questions that gauges parent's perception of how often their child felt happy, great, cheerful, joyful, in a good mood, refreshed, calm, peaceful
Time frame: Measure difference between baseline and three months
Balance
Will measure the length of time that participant can stand on one foot (up to 30 seconds)
Time frame: Measure difference between baseline and 6 months
20m shuttle run
Participants are to run between 2 lines, 20 m apart in time with an audio signal. The speed of the signal is increased by 0.5 km/h/min. The test finishes when the participant fails to reach the end lines concurrent with audio signals on 2 consecutive occasions (or when participant stops because of fatigue)
Time frame: Measure difference between baseline and 6 months
standing long jump
measure length of distance jumped from static position as part of Alpha Fitness Test
Time frame: Measure difference between baseline and 6 months
handgrip strength
Squeeze hand dynamometer as hard as possible for seconds. This will be repeated with both hands twice
Time frame: Measure difference between baseline and 6 months
tricep skin fold test
Width of skin fold test as measured with calipers as part of Alpha Fitness Test
Time frame: Measure difference between baseline and 6 months
waist circumference
Simple measure of waist circumference as part of Alpha Fitness Test
Time frame: Measure difference between baseline and 6 months
BMI
Calculation of body mass index by taking participants weight in kg divided by height in meters squared
Time frame: Measure difference between baseline and 6 months
PROMIS Parent Proxy Mobility SF v.2.0 -
Parent completed questionnaire including eight questions that gauges parent confidence that their child could perform various mobility related tasks with "no trouble", "a little trouble", "some trouble", "a lot of trouble", or "not able to do"
Time frame: Measure difference between baseline and 6 months
PROMIS Parent Proxy Physical Activity SF v1.0
Parent completed questionnaire including eight questions that gauges parent's perception of how often their child was able to perform physical activity/exercise over the course of the seven days prior to completing the questionnaire
Time frame: Measure difference between baseline and 6 months
PROMIS Parent Proxy Positive Affect SF v1.0
Parent completed questionnaire including eight questions that gauges parent's perception of how often their child felt happy, great, cheerful, joyful, in a good mood, refreshed, calm, peaceful
Time frame: Measure difference between baseline and 6 months