The multi-directional reach test in children with Down syndrome.
Sawika Promsorn, Soontharee Taweetanalarp
PMID 34054258WHAT IT FOUND
Children with Down syndrome showed shorter backward reach distances than typical peers.
Younger children with Down syndrome also had shorter forward reach. They relied on hip and mixed movement strategies, never the ankle strategy used by typical children.
Key findings
01Children with Down syndrome aged 7-9 had significantly smaller forward and backward reach distances than typical peers, while those aged 10-12 showed differences only in the backward direction.
02Almost all children with Down syndrome adopted hip and mixed strategies, with no use of the ankle strategy observed.
03Lateral reach distances showed no significant difference between age-matched groups.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The study did not collect information on the children's participation in rehabilitation programs or extracurricular physical activities, which could have influenced balance performance. Five children with DS aged 7-9 were excluded because they were not cooperative during testing, which may bias the sample toward more cooperative or higher-functioning children. The study used convenience sampling, which limits generalizability. The MDRT requires the ability to understand and follow instructions, so findings may not apply to children with more severe cognitive or communication impairments.
Declared interests
The study was funded by the 90th Anniversary of Chulalongkorn University. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that typical developmental improvements in balance strategies, such as the shift to ankle strategies seen in older typically developing children, will occur spontaneously in children with Down syndrome. The absence of ankle strategies in the DS group suggests a persistent difference in postural control that may require targeted intervention rather than waiting for maturation.