The relationship between motor performance and femoral cartilage thickness in children with Down syndrome

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Raikan Büyükavcı1, Mehmet Akif Büyükavcı2, Semra Aktürk3

  • 1Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine, Inonu University, Malatya, Turkey. rsoydemir@yahoo.com.

Acta Neurologica Belgica
|March 7, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Children with Down syndrome (DS) show a positive link between femoral cartilage thickness and gross motor skills. Thicker cartilage in the knee is associated with better motor development in young children with DS.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Genetics
  • Orthopedics

Background:

  • Down syndrome (DS) is a genetic condition impacting development.
  • Motor delays are a common characteristic in children with DS.
  • Understanding factors influencing motor development in DS is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the association between femoral cartilage thickness and motor performance in young children with Down syndrome.
  • To determine if knee cartilage characteristics correlate with gross motor skills.

Main Methods:

  • Ultrasound measurements of femoral cartilage thickness in both knees (medial, lateral, intercondylar areas).
  • Assessment of gross motor skills using the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development III.
  • Study included 39 children with DS aged 12-42 months.

Main Results:

  • A significant positive correlation was found between femoral cartilage thickness and gross motor scaled scores in both knee joints.
  • Specific correlation coefficients (r) ranged from 0.323 to 0.590 (p < .05).
  • Increased femoral cartilage thickness was linked to better gross motor functioning.

Conclusions:

  • Femoral cartilage thickness is positively correlated with gross motor functioning in children with Down syndrome.
  • This finding may offer insights into the biomechanical factors affecting motor development in DS.
  • Further research could explore interventions targeting cartilage health for motor improvement.

Keywords:
Bayley-IIIDown syndromeFemoral cartilage thicknessGross motor function

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