Approaches to pediatric physical therapy in patients with Down syndrome

Abstract

In children with DS, early therapeutic intervention provides an opportunity to improve language development and psychomotor and socio-affective skills, using the neuronal plasticity of the first years of life to enhance learning and overcome the morphophysiological barriers arising from the syndrome. The research problem of this study was: what approaches does physical therapy use in the treatment of patients with Down Syndrome? The general objective of this study was to know the physiotherapeutic action aimed at patients with DS through a literature review. It was, therefore, bibliographic research of narrative review of the literature to seek scientific evidence on physical therapy interventions aimed at people with DS. The study concluded that any physical therapy activity is of great value for the neuropsychomotor development of children with DS, especially when offered from the first years of life, as it stimulates neural plasticity and helps to develop the cognitive and psychomotor aspects that reflect in the acquisition of autonomy. However, the methods reported are technical as they approach human development in a fragmented way, disregarding the infinite diversity of factors that can interfere in the physical therapy intervention and in the intended and achieved results.