Down Sendromlu Çocuklarda Denge ve Yürüyüşün Değerlendirilmesi
Özet
DEMİR, Ş., Evaluation of Balance and Gait in Children with Down Syndrome,
Hacettepe University Graduate School of Health Sciences, Physical Therapy
and Rehabilitation Program, Master Thesis, Ankara, 2021. This study was
conducted to examine the balance and gait of children with Down Syndrome and to
determine the differences between children with typical development. Twenty
children with Down Syndrome and 19 children with typical development between
the ages of 2-10 years were included in the study. The time-distance characteristics
of the gait were evaluated using the GAITRite® electronic walking path. Before the
walk, the demographic and physical characteristics of children with Down's
syndrome and typical development were recorded. In the next stage, the children
were put on the mat and walked and the information obtained from the pressure
sensitive sensors during walking was analyzed with the software program of the
device and transferred to the computer. As a result of this analysis, through the
sensors; Objective data were obtained on the time-distance characteristics of
children's walking such as walking speed, cadence, stride length, cycle time, and
support surface. When the evaluated parameters were compared between the two
groups, a significant difference was found (p <0.05). It was observed that children
with Down syndrome had slower walking speeds, higher cadences and shorter stride
lengths than children with typical development. In addition, in the evaluation, it was
found that the cycle times of children with Down Syndrome were shorter than the
children with typical development and their support surfaces were wider. In the
balance evaluation, Bertec Balance Check Screener Device, which instantly records
the changes in vertical force and Center of Pressure and measures objectively, was
used. Stability scores and oscillation amounts on hard and soft ground were
evaluated with the device used. As a result of the evaluation, it was observed that the
scores of the children with Down Syndrome were lower than the children with
typical development. It was observed that children with Down Syndrome increased
their oscillations in order to maintain their balance. It was concluded that an
objective and accurate assessment of gait and balance is necessary in order to detect
gait and balance problems in children with Down Syndrome at an early stage.
Keywords: Balance Analysis, Down Syndrome, Gait Analysis
