Original Articles
Assessment of the balance functions of children with Down syndrome attending selected paediatric clinical settings in Colombo district, Sri Lanka
Authors:
Hewa Haputhanthirige Nadeesha Kalyani ,
University of Colombo, LK
About Hewa Haputhanthirige
Lecturer, Department of Allied Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine
Visiting Fellow, Queensland University of Technology
Jithangi Wanigasinghe
University of Colombo, LK
About Jithangi
Senior Lecturer and Consultant Paediatric Neurologist, Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine
Abstract
Introduction: Down syndrome (DS) is known to exhibit specific balance problems due to deficits in the postural control system, hypotonia etc. Specific areas affected in the balance due to DS, and how it varies with age are yet to be found.
Objectives: To assess balance variations among children with Down syndrome in three different age groups (3 to 5 years, 6 to 9 years and 10 to 12 years) and to compare with age-matched healthy children.
Method: A descriptive study was conducted on 64 DS children. Paediatric Balance Scale (PBS) which is a 14-item validated scale assessing three different aspects of balance i.e. static, dynamic and transfer stability, was used. Each item was scored from 0-4. Scoring was performed by pre-trained investigators.
Results: Total PBS score for DS group (mean = 46.47) is less than that of normal (N) children (mean=54.58) (p=0.001). Out of three aspects, dynamic skills were highly affected, and among them, DS children exhibit lowest balance skills for standing on one foot (mean=1.47) and placing an alternate foot on a stool (mean=2.58). Balance skills show an improvement with age (3 to 5 years DS=39.34, N=52.83), (6 to 9 years DS=47.53, N=55.57), (10 to 12 years DS=50.95, N=55.80). Interestingly, the balance gap between normal and DS group seems to narrow with age.
Conclusions: In this study balance skills of DS children were significantly less than their age matched normal peers. The dynamic aspects of balance were more affected than the static or transfer stability. In DS balance skills showed an improvement with age.
Sri Lanka Journal of Child Health, 2021; 50(2): 239-245
How to Cite:
Nadeesha Kalyani, H.H. and Wanigasinghe, J., 2021. Assessment of the balance functions of children with Down syndrome attending selected paediatric clinical settings in Colombo district, Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka Journal of Child Health, 50(2), pp.239–245. DOI: http://doi.org/10.4038/sljch.v50i2.9564
Published on
05 Jun 2021.
Peer Reviewed
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