STUDY REGARDING THE IMPROVEMENT OF POSTURAL CONTROL IN CHILDREN WHO HAVE DOWN SYNDROME THROUGH SWIMMING

Abstract

The children who have Down syndrome compensate their postural control disturbances through symmetric activities, the asymmetric ones needing a more effective postural system than the symmetric motor activities. This paper aimed to emphasize the advantages that the practice of physical therapeutic exercises in the water can have on the improvement of the postural control in children who have Down syndrome. The analysis of the results has showed that the implementation of an individualized program of water exercises has beneficial effects in stabilizing the posture and movement, leading to a symmetrical static ability without compensatory and defective movements. An appropriate therapeutic program can develop the coordinative abilities that are so essential for performing static and dynamic activities, thus contributing to the improvement of the subjects' quality of life. The postural reactions (straightening, balance, and support reactions) ensure the stability of the head, core, and extreminities, having as a result the normal movement (Haley, 1986). They develop late in comparison with the ones in the children without disabilities, being in a tight connection more with the motor indices and less with the age.