Effects of Neuromuscular Training on Children and Young Adults with Down Syndrome: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

PURPOSE: To synthesize existing research evidence and examine effects of neuromuscular training on general strength, maximal strength, and functional mobility tasks in children and young adults with Down syndrome.

METHODS: PubMed and EBSCO were used as a data source. To attain the aim of this study, literature search was performed under following inclusion criteria: (1) included participants with Down syndrome, (2) implemented a neuromuscular training intervention and measured outcome variables of general strength, maximal strength, and functional mobility tasks, (3) had a group of participants whose mean ages were under 30 years old, (4) employed a prospective controlled design, and (5) used mean and standard deviations to express the outcome variables. Effect size was calculated from each study based on pre- and post-testing value differences in general strength, maximal strength, and functional mobility tasks between control and intervention groups. The effect size was further classified in to one of the following categories: small, moderate, and large effects.

RESULTS: Seven studies met inclusion criteria. Analysis indicated large to moderate effects on general strength, moderate to small effects on maximal strength, and small effect on functional mobility tasks by neuromuscular training.

CONCLUSIONS: Although there were limited studies, the results showed that neuromuscular training could be used as an effective intervention in children and young adults with Down syndrome.

WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS: Synthesis of seven reviewed studies indicated that neuromuscular training could be beneficial to optimize general and maximal muscular strength development in children and young adults with Down syndrome.