The necessity of rehabilitation in children with Down syndrome

Abstract

Abstract Introduction: Children with Down syndrome have associated impairments of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue (joint hypermobility), and of the neurologic system (hypotonia, mental retardation, developmental delay). Aim: We conducted a retrospective study that had in view the quantification of the number of children suffering from Down syndrome who attended rehabilitation programmes in the Rehabilitation Department of “Louis Ţurcanu” Emergency Children’s Hospital Timisoara for a 3-year period (between November 2016 and October 2019). Methods: The study included 21 children with Down syndrome; their age ranged from 2 weeks to 15 years, with 52% of the children being in the 0-12 months group. All patients were included in a rehabilitation programme of the outpatient Rehabilitation Department (with 10 daily sessions) every 6 months. Results: We point out the importance of the rehabilitation team in the management of children with Down syndrome. Conclusion: The physical therapy programme should be for a long term, it should be started as early as possible (even in the first weeks of life) and followed continuously through the entire growth period and also during adulthood.