Early Movement Matters: Interplay of Physical Activity and Motor Skill Development in Infants With Down Syndrome

Area of Science:

• Developmental Pediatrics
• Neuroscience
• Human Movement Science

Background:

• Infants with Down syndrome often exhibit motor delays compared to typically developing infants.
• Understanding the interplay between physical activity and motor development is crucial for early intervention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To longitudinally track monthly motor development and physical activity in infants with and without Down syndrome.
• To identify specific time points when motor skill differences emerge between groups.
• To examine the relationship between physical activity levels and the timing of motor skill acquisition in infants with Down syndrome.

Main Methods:

• Longitudinal assessment of gross and fine motor skills using the Bayley Scales of Infant Development-III.
• Objective measurement of physical activity via accelerometers in 35 infants across eight time points.
• Statistical analysis using a multivariate mixed model to detect divergence in motor scores and bivariate correlations to assess PA-motor relationships.

Main Results:

• Significant differences in gross and fine motor skills emerged at 2 and 4 months, respectively.
• In infants with Down syndrome, increased physical activity between 4 and 6 months correlated positively with gross motor development.
• Higher physical activity levels at 2 or 3 months were associated with earlier achievement of prone and sitting skills.

Conclusions:

• Motor skill development trajectories diverge early in infancy for infants with Down syndrome.
• Early physical activity is a significant factor influencing the timing of motor skill acquisition in infants with Down syndrome.
• These findings underscore the critical importance of early, targeted interventions to support motor development in infants with Down syndrome.