Current Trends in Pediatric Physical Therapy Practice for Children with Down Syndrome

University of Puget Sound Sound Ideas

Physical Therapy Research Symposium Physical Therapy, School of

2019

Current Trends in Pediatric Physical Therapy Practice for Children with Down Syndrome

Beka Johnson University of Puget Sound

Julia Looper University of Puget Sound

Alyssa Fiss University of Puget Sound

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Recommended Citation Johnson, Beka; Looper, Julia; and Fiss, Alyssa, "Current Trends in Pediatric Physical Therapy Practice for Children with Down Syndrome" (2019). Physical Therapy Research Symposium. 48. https://soundideas.pugetsound.edu/ptsymposium/48

This Poster is brought to you for free and open access by the Physical Therapy, School of at Sound Ideas. It has been accepted for inclusion in Physical Therapy Research Symposium by an authorized administrator of Sound Ideas. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Current Trends in Pediatric Physical Therapy Practice for Children with Down Syndrome School of Physical Therapy Beka Johnson, SPT; Julia Looper, PT, PhD; Alyssa Fiss, PT, PhD

BACKGROUND Table 1. Survey Responses by Thematic Category and ICF Category RESULTS • Figure 1. Most Common 6,000 children with Down syndrome (DS) are born Thematic Categories Impairments Interventions Difference Thematic Subcategories of every year in the US Functional Impairments recognized by 22.2% 22.1% 0.1% Surveyed Pediatric PTs • It is the role of the physical therapist (PT) to Motor Skills optimize quality of life and function in children with DS Joint Stability 18.1% 5.9% 12.2% • Children with DS present a wide range of symptoms that may be addressed by a PT Muscle Performance 17.2% 15.1% 2.1% • It is unclear how practicing therapists view these symptoms or relate them to treatment Balance 10.2% 6.9% 3.3%

Figure 2. Most Common OBJECTIVE Neuromotor Control 8.8% 10.8% 1.9% Thematic Subcategories of Interventions implemented by • To gain an understanding of current PT practice Surveyed Pediatric PTs Alignment 7.9% 12.3% 4.4% for children with DS including which PT problems are identified clinically and which PT interventions • There were no statistically significant relationships are reported Cardiopulmonary 5.9% 1.3% 4.6% between the thematic categories and the demographic factors • Use reported interventions as a springboard for further research Participation 3.4% 7.4% 4.0% • CONCLUSION To explore use of the International Classification of Sensory 2.3% 2.1% 0.2% Disability and Health (ICF) in current treatment of Awareness • Practicing PTs use a diversity of interventions with children with DS Cognitive and varying amounts of supporting evidence 2.0% 0.0% 2.0% METHODS Adaptive Behavior • A higher % of PTs identify joint stability and cardiopulmonary deficits than report specifically • Qualitative survey of 108 randomly selected Oral Communication 1.4% 0.0% 1.4% targeting these areas in treatment practicing pediatric PTs • Ø 7 demographic questions The majority of PTs identify problems and Biometrics 0.7% 0.0% 0.7% interventions at the ICF level of body functions & Ø 2 open-ended questions structures though some of these 'impairments' • Used constant comparative method to develop Pain 0.2% 0.3% 0.0% are being treated at the level of activities and 14 thematic categories and 3 ICF categories from participation responses Other NA 15.9% 15.9% • Pulled exemplar quotes from data and organized DISCUSSION data into charts for visual inspection ICF Categories Impairments Interventions Difference • Correlations between thematic categories and Body Functions & • Further research is needed to determine the 70% 60% 10% demographic factors were analyzed using Structure effectiveness of identified interventions currently Spearman’s Rho testing used by pediatric PTs to treat children with DS Activities 24% 32% 8% • Functional motor skills are an essential part of ACKNOWLEDGMENTS care for most practicing pediatric PTs This project was funded in part by the University Participation 6% 8% 2% • Children with DS may benefit from an increased of Puget Sound Enrichment Committee. emphasis on cardiovascular fitness in treatment

University of Puget Sound Research Symposium, 2019