Work Type

Poster

Date

Fall 2023

Faculty Advisor

Julia Looper PT, PhD

Language

English

Abstract

Is Upright Exploratory Play Influenced by Partial Body Weight Support in Infants with Down Syndrome?

Sofia Hardin, SPT; Christa Lum, SPT

Mentor: Julia Looper, PT, PhD

Background: Children with Down syndrome (DS) typically present with delayed gross motor skills, which may negatively impact their development in other realms, such as cognition and language. The partial body-weight supported system (PBWSS) is a possible early intervention for infants with DS in physical therapy settings and in the community to facilitate motor development through exploratory play.

Purpose: To explore the effects of a PBWSS on upright play positions during exploratory play among infants with DS. Upright play positions include kneeling, squatting, standing, cruising, supported stepping, and walking.

Methods: (N=3). Researchers used a 9x9ft play environment that included the PBWSS and toys. Infants under the age of three attended nine one-hour sessions over the course of three weeks. Infants moved freely within the space and interacted with researchers and present family members. Researchers behavior-coded the first 30 minutes of play for the first and last session with the PBWSS for each infant. Gross motor behaviors were coded for specific motions during the first 2 seconds of every 6 second interval for the duration of the 30 minute play time, totaling to 300 observations.

Results: Observations of upright play increased in the last session compared to the first for all three infants, increasing from 33% to 40.67% for infant 1, 15.67% to 49.67% for infant 2 and 39.33% to 47.67% for infant 3.

Conclusion: The PBWSS seemed to influence upright play positions during exploratory play for infants with DS and is worth further exploration.

Publisher

University of Puget Sound

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