Adapted Physical Activities and Down syndrome

Abstract

Sport, competition, performance are today essential values of our society. They oppose the image of disability, even more surely when it comes to mental disability. However, for almost 20 years now, the sport gradually welcomed these specific populations, diverse and rich differences. The benefits of physical activity and sport as recognized in the general population are now extended to people with special needs whether they are people with a trisomy 21, a diabetes or obesity, for examples.In Down Syndrome (D.S), the heterogeneity of the syndrome induced damage is even important depending on the type of trisomy, and medical management will therefore also very diverse. History of Sports and Mental HandicapHistorically, the management of people with intellectual disabilities (ID) in sports activities dates from the late 19 th , under the leadership of Dr. Edouard Seguin (1812-1880) a French teacher and physician. This teacher advocated a physiological education based on educational games, and shed what would become later the sensori-motor stages, with the work of Jean Piaget. Dr. E Seguin incorporated a general training program that integrated muscular, imitative, nervous, and reflective physiological functions. Many techniques Seguin used in his programs, such as individualized instruction and behavior management, can be found in current practice, and so they are still recognized as relevant by care teams. In 1848, Seguin immigrated to the United States in 1848, and became a major reference teacher for educating individuals with retardation. Seguin's methods and positive results served as a foundation for similar efforts throughout Europe and America. Among those later influenced by his teaching methods was Maria Montessori (1870Montessori ( -1952, a pioneer in teaching children with and without disabilities.In United States of America, Dr. Samuel Gridley Howe (1801-1876) established the first public training facility in Boston. He was concerned about the conditions of persons with mental illness, persons with a hearing loss or who are blind, slaves, and groups of people who were politically oppressed throughout Europe. Both Seguin and Howe firmly believed in the importance of family and community, and wanted their schools to prepare children with disabilities to live with the rest of society.In parallel since the mid-1900s, beginning in Scandinavia, more and more countries have sought to deinstitutionalize persons with ID and to create appropriate community supports and inclusive community care settings for them. Sports activities grow as a means of education and therapy.Nevertheless, it will be necessary to wait for a slow evolution for young children with mental disabilities can be integrated into educational structures and later into sport practice structures.Until the 1960s, sport competition remains a contra-indicate for individuals with ID. The first published work concludes that competition (between disabled to non-disabled participants) was not recommended for people with ID [1][2][3]. Some results repor...

Physical activity among children with down syndrome: maternal perception

“…Parents’ support, positive attitude, and knowledge all have been shown to affect the participation of children with DS in everyday activities (Lyons et al, 2015 ). According to Bricout ( 2015 ), from their children’s infancy, parents of children with DS need to be informed about positive-child rearing strategies that can minimize poor health status in their children. While children with DS experience health, motor, and communication impairments, they are able to learn how to engage in physical activities suitable to their health status.…”