Award Date

5-1-2022

Degree Type

Doctoral Project

Degree Name

Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)

Department

Physical Therapy

First Committee Member

Jenny Kent

Second Committee Member

Daniel Young

Third Committee Member

Merrill Landers

Number of Pages

38

Abstract

Background: Down syndrome (Ds) is associated with impairments affecting overall motor development including gait pattern and speed. Research on the effects of exercise on adults with Ds is lacking. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of a 12-week telehealth exercise program on gait impairments in adults with Ds.

Methods: Twenty participants performed a 12-week telehealth exercise program based upon a diagnosis-specific procedure developed by Sarah Mann, PT, DPT. Gait deviations were assessed with the Ranchos Los Amigos Observational Gait Analysis. Comfortable gait speed was evaluated with the 4-meter walk test.

Results: Improvements in comfortable gait speed and reduced gait deviations were statistically significant. Other significant findings included fewer gait deviations during Single Leg Stance, Swing Limb Advancement, deviations at the hip, and at the ankle.

Conclusions: Gait velocity and observable gait impairments in adults with Ds significantly improved following a 12-week telehealth exercise program.

Keywords

Down syndrome; Gait in humans; Exercise

Disciplines

Physical Therapy

File Format

pdf

File Size

1000 KB

Degree Grantor

University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Language

English

Rights

IN COPYRIGHT. For more information about this rights statement, please visit http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

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