The effect of Cawthorne-Cooksey exercises on lower extremity function in children with Down syndrome
Poster Presentation
Paper ID : 1853-12THCONG
Oral / Poster Presentation File: 1853.jpg
Authors
1Student of Islamic Azad University of Karaj, Sport Injuries
2Assistant Professor, Sport Injuries, Sport Sciences Research Institute (SSRI), Tehran, Iran.
3Assistant Professor of Motor Behavior, Department of Motor Behavior, Karaj Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran, P. O. Box: 313 – 31485
Abstract
Rehabilitation therapies are very important in reducing disabilities caused by Down syndrome. Due to the importance of lower extremity function in creating individual independence, and the role of it in moving and changing life style in children Down syndrome, the present study investigated the effect of Cawthorne-Cooksey exercises on lower extremity function in children with Down syndrome.
The statistical sample included 30 boys aged 8 to 10 years with Down syndrome in Shahriar city with an IQ of 50 to 70 who participated in this study by purposeful and available sampling method and were randomly divided into two identical groups of 15 experimental and Controls. To evaluate the lower extremity function, horizontal jump, vertical jump, single leg jump and 2*10 sprint tests were used before and after intervention period. The intervention consisted of 8 weeks (3 sessions of 45 minutes per week) of Cawthorne-Cooksey exercises. To analyze the data, dependent t-test and analysis of covariance with elimination of the pretest effect at a significant level (α = 5%) were used.
Findings showed that eight weeks of Cawthorne-Cooksey training significantly improved horizontal jump (P=0.001, Effect Size=0.72), vertical jump (P=0.001, Effect Size=0.74), single leg jump (P=0.001, Effect Size=0.58) and 2*10 sprint (P=0.001, Effect Size=0.59) in children with Down syndrome.
The Cawthorne-Cooksey exercises is a combination of strengthening and proprioception protocol and can improve lower extremity funcion in children with Down syndrome, which may be due to increased muscle strength and integration of proprioception input. The effectiveness of this type of exercise program is related to the summoning of more motor units, which further increases the strength and power of the knee and femur extensor muscles and, consequently, the jumping records. It seems that this study have confirmed the effect of Cawthorne-Cooksey exercises on improving static and dynamic balance and children with Down syndrome can benefit from this training protocol.
The statistical sample included 30 boys aged 8 to 10 years with Down syndrome in Shahriar city with an IQ of 50 to 70 who participated in this study by purposeful and available sampling method and were randomly divided into two identical groups of 15 experimental and Controls. To evaluate the lower extremity function, horizontal jump, vertical jump, single leg jump and 2*10 sprint tests were used before and after intervention period. The intervention consisted of 8 weeks (3 sessions of 45 minutes per week) of Cawthorne-Cooksey exercises. To analyze the data, dependent t-test and analysis of covariance with elimination of the pretest effect at a significant level (α = 5%) were used.
Findings showed that eight weeks of Cawthorne-Cooksey training significantly improved horizontal jump (P=0.001, Effect Size=0.72), vertical jump (P=0.001, Effect Size=0.74), single leg jump (P=0.001, Effect Size=0.58) and 2*10 sprint (P=0.001, Effect Size=0.59) in children with Down syndrome.
The Cawthorne-Cooksey exercises is a combination of strengthening and proprioception protocol and can improve lower extremity funcion in children with Down syndrome, which may be due to increased muscle strength and integration of proprioception input. The effectiveness of this type of exercise program is related to the summoning of more motor units, which further increases the strength and power of the knee and femur extensor muscles and, consequently, the jumping records. It seems that this study have confirmed the effect of Cawthorne-Cooksey exercises on improving static and dynamic balance and children with Down syndrome can benefit from this training protocol.
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