The study, available online in advance of publication in Physical Therapy, suggests high intensity training may help Down syndrome infants begin walking five months sooner than they typically do. High intensity training includes increasing the treadmill belt speed, using longer durations, and adding light weights to the ankles, with intensity tailored to each child.
It also aids in taking independent steps even sooner.
Researchers asked parents of 30 babies with Down syndrome to help them walk on the treadmills for eight minutes a day, five days a week. This exercise hugely helped the babies learn to walk up to four or five months earlier than traditional physical therapy alone, the study found.
Down syndrome babies often do not learn to walk independently until 24 to 28 months as compared to normal infants who begin walking at 12 months. It further delays their motor skills, perception, spatial cognition and social skills.
Dale Ulrich, of the University of Michigan, said, "The key is if we can get them to walk earlier and better then they can explore their environment earlier and when you start to explore, you learn about the world around you."
"Walking is a critical factor in development in every other domain," he added.
Down syndrome occurs in about 1 in 700 births, and is one of the few disabilities that cause significant delays in all developmental domains.
