Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 1, 2026
Physical Activity Measurement in Children Accepting Table Tennis Training
Published on: July 27, 2022
Physical Activity Patterns in Infants With and Without Down Syndrome
Leah Ketcheson1, E Andrew Pitchford, Hyun-Jin Kwon
1School of Kinesiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Insights
Infants with Down syndrome (DS) and typically developing infants show similar physical activity (PA) levels in infancy. PA increased with age, with more activity detected on the wrist than the ankle for both groups.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Health
- Developmental Pediatrics
- Down Syndrome Research
Background:
- Individuals with Down syndrome (DS) have a higher risk of obesity compared to typically developing peers.
- Low physical activity (PA) is a contributing factor to early-onset obesity in children with DS.
- Limited research exists on PA patterns in infants, particularly those with DS.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate and compare daily physical activity (PA) patterns in infants with and without Down syndrome (DS).
- To establish baseline PA data for infants aged 1-12 months.
- To understand the influence of age on PA in early infancy.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 22 typically developing infants and 11 infants with DS (aged 1-12 months) participated.
- Actigraph GT3X+ devices were used to measure PA on both wrist and ankle placements.
- Daily PA counts were recorded and analyzed for differences between groups and across age.
Main Results:
- No significant differences in PA counts were observed between the DS and typically developing groups when measured at the ankle.
- Both groups exhibited significantly higher PA counts when measured at the wrist compared to the ankle.
- PA counts demonstrated a consistent increase across the first 12 months of age in both groups.
Conclusions:
- This study provides initial insights into infant PA patterns, serving as a foundation for future research.
- Findings suggest that PA levels in infancy may not differ significantly between infants with and without DS.
- Understanding infant PA is crucial for addressing obesity risks, especially in vulnerable populations like those with DS.
Purpose:
Individuals with Down syndrome (DS) are at greater risk for obesity than their peers who are developing typically. One factor contributing to an early onset of obesity is low levels of physical activity (PA). However, there is little known regarding PA patterns during infancy.
Methods:
The purpose of this study was to examine the daily PA patterns in 22 infants developing typically and 11 infants with Down syndrome (aged 1-12 months) using Actigraph GT3X+ (wrist and ankle).
Results:
No significant differences between groups were identified in PA counts at the ankle. Both groups produced significantly more PA at the wrist than at the ankle and PA counts increased across months in age.
Conclusion:
This study represents an important first step in establishing baseline PA patterns during infancy.
