Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 17, 2026
Quantified Assessment of Infant's Gross Motor Abilities Using a Multisensor Wearable
Published on: May 17, 2024
Motor performance of children with Down syndrome and typical development at 2 to 4 and 26 months
Aline Christine das Neves Cardoso1, Ana Carolina de Campos, Mariana Martins dos Santos
1Department of Physical Therapy (Mss Cardoso and Martin dos Santos and Drs Campos and Rocha), Federal University of São Carlos, São Carlos-SP, Brazil; Physical Therapy/Human Movement Sciences Graduate Program (Dr Cabrera Santos), Methodist University of Piracicaba, Piracicaba-SP, Brazil.
Insights
Children with Down syndrome (DS) exhibit poorer gross motor skills compared to typically developing peers. Early motor assessments can predict later developmental outcomes, highlighting the importance of timely interventions for children with DS.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Pediatrics
- Motor Development
- Genetics
Background:
- Down syndrome (DS) is a genetic condition associated with developmental delays.
- Gross motor skills are crucial for a child's overall development and independence.
- Early identification of motor deficits can inform intervention strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare gross motor performance between children with Down syndrome (DS) and typical development (TD) at 2-4 months and 2 years of age.
- To examine the relationship between early motor performance and later gross motor outcomes in children with DS and TD.
Main Methods:
- Phase I: Assessed 17 infants (7 with DS, 10 with TD) at 2-4 months using the Test of Infant Motor Performance (TIMP).
- Phase II: Assessed 25 children (age not specified, but implies later stage) using the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development (Bayley-III) gross motor scale.
- 10 participants completed assessments in both phases.
Main Results:
- Infants and children with DS demonstrated significantly lower scores on both the TIMP and Bayley-III gross motor assessments compared to their TD counterparts.
- Early motor performance, as measured by TIMP z scores, was a significant predictor of later gross motor outcomes (Bayley-III scores) in both groups.
Conclusions:
- Children with Down syndrome experience challenges in early postural control and later in activities requiring speed, balance, and postural stability.
- The predictive value of early motor assessments underscores the critical need for early, task-specific interventions to improve motor outcomes in children with DS.
Purpose:
To compare gross motor performance of children with Down syndrome (DS) and typical development (TD) at 2 to 4 months (Phase I) and at 2 years of age (Phase II) and to investigate the relation between early motor performance and later outcome.
Methods:
Seventeen infants (10 with TD and 7 with DS) were assessed in Phase I using the Test of Infant Motor Performance (TIMP); 25 children were assessed in Phase II using the gross motor scale of the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development (Bayley-III); 10 participants were enrolled in both phases.
Results:
TIMP and Bayley-III scores were lower in the DS group. In both groups, TIMP z scores were predictive of Bayley-III scores.
Conclusions:
Children with DS show difficulties in early postural control and activities requiring speed, postural control, and balance. The finding that early performance relates to later outcome reinforces the relevance of early and task-specific intervention.
