Functional ambulation performance testing of adults with Down syndrome.

Area of Science:

• Biomechanics and Motor Control
• Developmental Disabilities Research
• Gait Analysis and Rehabilitation

Background:

• Down syndrome is associated with altered motor development and gait characteristics.
• Quantitative gait analysis provides objective measures of walking performance.
• Temporal distance (TD) gait measures and Functional Ambulation Performance Scores (FAPS) are tools for assessing gait.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine TD gait measures and FAPS in adults with Down syndrome (DSA).
• To assess the reliability of TD gait measures and FAPS in DSA adults.
• To compare gait parameters between DSA adults and adults without developmental disability (NDDA).

Main Methods:

• Forty-one community-ambulating adults participated: 21 DSA (mean age 41) and 20 NDDA (mean age 40).
• TD gait measures and FAPS were collected over four trials (immediate and 2-week test-retest) using a GAITRite™ system.
• Reliability was assessed using Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC(2,k)), and groups were compared directly.

Main Results:

• High reliability (ICC(2,k) ≥ 0.76) was found for FAPS, mean normalized velocity, step length/leg length ratio, and step time in the DSA group.
• DSA group showed lower FAPS, step length/leg length ratio, and step time compared to the NDDA group.
• DSA group exhibited higher mean normalized velocity and base of support compared to the NDDA group, with greater variability.

Conclusions:

• TD gait measures and FAPS are reliable indicators of gait performance in adults with Down syndrome.
• While some gait measures are similar, the DSA group demonstrates greater variability and different gait proficiencies compared to NDDA individuals.
• The findings support the use of these quantitative measures for evaluating gait in adults with Down syndrome.