Some of the clinical characteristics of people with Down syndrome (DS) are orthopedic, cardiovascular, neuromuscular, visual, cognitive and perceptual disorders, which directly affect the quality of their movements. Children with DS often have a sedentary lifestyle or low levels of physical activity which exacerbates problems related to obesity and overall physical health. Therefore, the practice of physical exercise in this type of population is essential to improve their health-related physical fitness. The aim of this study was to analyze the influence of an adapted rhythmic gymnastics training program on body composition, tendon architecture and stiffness, and physical capacity in children with DS.
Children with DS with medium to moderate intellectual disabilities are required to participate. Participants will complete 10 weeks of training, two days per week. They will be divided into two groups: the Control Group will receive two swimming sessions per week and the Experimental Group will receive two swimming sessions plus two rhythmic gymnastics sessions. Before and after the application of the program, the following will be evaluated: body composition by Inbody 720, muscular architecture and elastography by Logiq® S8 ultrasound scanner and tendon stiffness by Myoton® Pro portable myotonometer. The tendons to be studied will be the Achilles tendon and the patellar tendon.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Purpose
OTHER
Masking
TRIPLE
Enrollment
20
2 sessions per week of swimming training
2 training sessions of rhythmic gymnastics
Universidad de Castilla La Mancha
Toledo, Spain
Body composition
Body compisition will be assessed with the Inbody 720 (Bioespace, Seoul, Korea). In this test body mass (BM; kg), muscle mass (MM; kg), fat mass (FM; kg), lean mass (LM; kg), fat-free mass (FF; kg)
Time frame: "baseline" and "immediately post intervention"
Tendon thickness
Tendon thickness will be evaluated with the Logiq® S8 ultrasound machine (GE Healthcare, Milwaukee, WI).
Time frame: "baseline" and "immediately post intervention"
Stiffness tendon
Stiffness tendon will be evaluated with Myoton® Pro hand-held myotonometer (Myoton AS, Tallinn, Estonia). In this test, the mechanical properties of the Achilles tendon will be measured.
Time frame: "baseline" and "immediately post intervention"
Hamstrings flexibility
Hamstrings flexibility will be evaluated with Seat and Reach Test (Fabrication Enterprises Inc., USA).
Time frame: "baseline" and "immediately post intervention"
body mass index
Body mass index (BMI; kg/m2) will be calcultated from body mass and height
Time frame: "baseline" and "immediately post intervention"
visceral fat area
visceral fat area (area; cm2) will be assessed with the Inbody 720 (Bioespace, Seoul, Korea).
Time frame: "baseline" and "immediately post intervention"
metabolism
metabolism (MET; kcal) will be assessed with the Inbody 720 (Bioespace, Seoul, Korea).
Time frame: "baseline" and "immediately post intervention"
tendon elastography
Tendon elastography will be evaluated with the Logiq® S8 ultrasound machine (GE Healthcare, Milwaukee, WI).
Time frame: "baseline" and "immediately post intervention"
balance
Balance will be evaluated with the Biodex Balance System stability system (Biodex Medical Systems Inc., USA).
Time frame: "baseline and "immediately post intervention"
functional capacity
Functional capacity of the lower body wll be evaluated with Sit to Stand Test adapted.
Time frame: "baseline" and "immediately post intervention"
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