The importance of exercise in individuals with Down syndrome

By Megan Stringer, Neuroscience PhD student at IUPUI and blogger at neurochow.blog

Most parents are aware of the importance of physical activity, as it can directly improve sleep quality, extend life expectancy and reduce the risk for developing cardiovascular disease and obesity.  However, this is especially true for individuals with DS, as they are at a higher risk for developing obesity and type 2 diabetes, and research suggests that some are more sedentary than their peers.  The importance of exercise in individuals with DS is supported by several studies that report benefits of a strength and cardiovascular program at multiple ages.  

In adults, a Wii-based exercise program conducted twice a week for two months resulted in improvements in flexibility and motor performance.  A separate study showed that a three month fitness and health education program significantly improved attitudes towards exercise and improved life satisfaction.  Adolescents with DS can also benefit from similar programs, as one study showed that exercises consisting of brief treadmill training and virtual-reality based activity tests exhibited improved agility and muscle strength.  An additional study reported that adolescents undergoing a training program for eight weeks significantly improved their balance.  However, a specific strength or cardiovascular program is not required to reap the benefits of exercise.  For example, youth with DS who learned to ride a bike increased their physical activity and decreased their body fat levels one year after learning compared to those that did not.  Research also suggests that exercise may strengthen bones, as adolescent females with high levels of activity also had significantly higher bone mineral density.

An important factor to consider is that families of an individual with DS can encounter physical, social and environmental obstacles when trying to improve the physical health of their child.  However, the good news is that there are several local Indiana programs aimed to help individuals of all ages and abilities lead healthier lives.  DSI sponsors many of these programs, including tennis lessons and dance camps.  In addition, IUPUI offers an Adapted Physical Activity clinic during the fall and spring semesters for individuals at least 15 years old.  The clinic meets once a week at the National Institute for Fitness and Sport located in downtown Indianapolis.  Participants in this clinic receive individualized physical fitness programming based on their abilities.  The programs focus on building muscle strength, cardiovascular endurance and range of motion.  Participating in these local programs allows individuals with DS to have an active role in their own health care, and provides them to opportunity to improve their physical health and overall well-being.

Check out the DSI program guide which highlights many of the activity classes mentioned above: http://www.dsindiana.org/files/content/2017_Program%20Guide.pdf.