A Step Forward - Treadmill Training For Down Syndrome Infants By Travis Van Slooten

A study suggests that starting a Down syndrome infant on a treadmill for mere minutes a day can help them walk four to five months earlier as opposed to only receiving traditional physical therapy. Also, the study determined that an infant with Down syndrome may walk sooner if their treadmill walk is at a high intensity.

Infants that are typically developed learn to walk on their own at around 12 months, but Down syndrome infants have a significant delay. They usually walk on their own between 24 to 28 months.

Important to mental and physical growth, walking allows us to explore our environment. With infants, walking is critical because locomotive skills help them learn other skills such as social and motor skills and spatial cognition and perception.

The study had 30 infant participants. They were randomly assigned low intensity or high intensity treadmill training. The training was done at home with the infant's parents. During the study, the infants maintained their everyday physical treatment.

"Initially, all parents worked with their infants on the treadmill for eight minutes a day, five days a week. The parent sat on a bench that straddled the treadmill and held the infant as the child took steps on the treadmill," said Professor Dale Ulrich of the University of Michigan Division of Kinesiology and principal investigator on the treadmill training project.

The parents began their infant with low intensity training, but once the infant could take 10, 20 and 30 steps per minute, the intensity was increased for half of the infant participants. The high intensity participants experienced increased belt speed and duration time. Also light weights were added to the infant's ankles. The intensity level was specific to each child.

The study entitled, "The Effects of Intensity of Treadmill Training on Developmental Outcomes and Stepping in Infants with Down Syndrome" concluded that the infants that walked on the treadmill at higher intensity increased their stepping significantly. These participants also met most of the motor milestones at an earlier mean age.

These study results supported an earlier study on Down syndrome infants using a treadmill for walking advancement. With the study's results, there is hope that Down syndrome support organizations and hospitals may rent treadmills to parents who can't afford the equipment.

Down Syndrome - Ayurvedic Herbal Treatment By Abdulmubeen Mundewadi

Down syndrome is the most common genetic disorder that causes severe learning disability in children. Children with Down syndrome have some distinctive features which include flattened facial features; a protruding tongue; a small head; upward slanting eyes; unusually shaped ears; broad, short, hands with relatively short fingers; and poor muscle tone causing excessive flexibility. Down syndrome is not inherited, but is caused by 3 types of genetic variations involving the 21st chromosome, which include the Trisomy 21, the Mosaic Down syndrome and the Translocation Down syndrome. Advancing maternal age and a family history are risk factors for this condition. Complications of this condition include heart defects, leukemia, a susceptibility to infectious diseases, dementia in later life, and other structural and functional problems in the body.

The Ayurvedic treatment of Down syndrome is aimed at improving physical and cognitive deficits, preventing complications and attempting to normalize life for the affected children, to the extent possible with medicines. Medicines like Trayo-Dashang-Guggulu, Panch-Tikta-Ghrut-Guggulu, Vish-Tinduk-Vati, Amalaki (Emblica officinalis), Haritaki (Terminalia chebula), Sunthi (Zinziber officinalis), Marich (Piper nigrum), Pippali (Piper longum), Yashtimadhuk (Glycerrhiza glabra), Nimba (Azadirachta indica), Patol (Tricosanthe dioica), Draksha (Vitis vinifera), Musta (Cyperus rotundus), Kuchla (Strychnos nuxvomica) and Indrayav (Holarrhina antidysentrica) can be used to improve muscle tone and co-ordination. Massage of the entire body using medicated oils like Mahanarayan oil, Mahamash oil and Mahasaindhav oil is also very helpful.

To improve cognitive performance and prevent dementia, medicines used are: Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri), Mandukparni (Centella asiatica), Shankhpushpi (Convolvulus pluricaulis), Vacha (Acorus calamus), Jyotishmati (Celastrus panniculatus) and Kushmand (Benincasa hispida). In order to reduce susceptibility to infectious diseases, medicines used are: Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum), Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus), Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), Pippali, Yashtimadhuk, Abhrak-Bhasma, Laghu-Malini-Vasant, Madhu-Malini-Vasant and Suvarna-Malini-Vasant. Medicines like Laxmi-Vilas-Ras, Shrung-Bhasma, Laxadi-Guggulu, Arjunarishta, Arjun (Terminalia Arjuna) and Amalaki can be used to reduce disability from heart defects. Medicines like Panch-Tikta-Ghrut-Guggulu, Laxadi-Guggulu, Suvarna-Bhasma and Heerak-Bhasma can be used to prevent or treat leukemia. In order to improve or correct hearing loss and poor vision, medicines like Tapyadi-Loh, Kaishor-Guggulu, Punarnavadi-Guggulu, Abhrak-Bhasma and Ekang-Veer-Ras can be used.

A judicious combination of Ayurvedic medicines can thus help to reduce physical and mental disability and dramatically increase the life span for people with Down syndrome. All such patients should be under the regular care and supervision of a team of physicians specializing in Down syndrome.

Children With Down Syndrome - Children With an Extra Copy of Chromosome 21 By Jared Wright

It is believed that around 5,000 of the babies born in the USA each year, have Down syndrome. The syndrome is named after Dr John Langdon Down who identified the syndrome in 1866. It is caused by an extra copy of chromosome 21 in all the cells of the body.

The reason why it happens is unknown and it can occur in any family. There is no proof that is affects a specific race or sex more than the others. Mothers over 40 have a greater chance of having a baby with Down syndrome than younger mothers. Having one baby with Down syndrome doesn't mean it will affect all babies born after that, but the risk becomes higher.

Children with Down syndrome have specific physical features such as a round face and small chin. Many also have vision problems and tend to wear glasses. Growth is normally slowed down and they seldom grow very tall. Almond shaped eyes and an oversized tongue are other typical features. Because of the oversized tongues, speech can sometimes be difficult.

Their cognitive abilities are usually lower than those of other children and a small number are severely mentally disabled. These children are more prone to heart diseases, ear infections and thyroid problems than other children. Treating this at a young age is necessary to prevent further illnesses later in their lives.

Caring for a child with Down syndrome has its own challenges but parents of these children often report the special bond that they have with their children and wouldn't want it any other way. These children are loving and caring by nature. Unless there are other mental problems, they usually enjoy the company of people and should be exposed to that.

Children with Down syndrome will benefit from early childhood therapy such as speech and physical therapy. Life expectancy for people with Down syndrome, for many years, was around twenty to twenty five years. That has changed now and Down syndrome babies can, on average, have a life expectancy of fifty to sixty years.

These children can normally attend mainstream schools where extra assistance is available. They learn slower than other children, but many are educated enough to be able to have a regular job and a few even attend college.

These lovely children might have different and more challenges than many other children but with the appropriate care and love, can have full and happy lives.

Just What is Downs Syndrome? By David Cowley

It's unfortunate that many people today just don't have the proper understanding of Downs Syndrome and what exactly this means. Some make wrong assumptions about those with this condition, their abilities, and their intelligence level. It's true that many with Downs Syndrome have typically lower than average cognitive abilities, but only a very small percentage of those with this condition are impaired enough to need constant supervision or to keep them from functioning on their own.

The actual condition itself is caused by a disorder of the chromosomes, with all or part of an extra twenty-first chromosome. There are some physical characteristics that are common among those with Downs Syndrome, including almond-shaped eyes caused by a fold in the eyelids. Some also have a particular type of crease on the hands, shorter limbs than average, poorer muscle tone than average, and a protruding tongue. Those with Downs Syndrome are often easy to spot because of these physical characteristics, but rarely do any of those with this condition have physical abnormalities that would keep him or her from functioning in normal circumstances. There is also an increased risk for heart defects, acid reflux disease, ear infection, sleep apnea, and often thyroid disease or disorders. Other than these conditions, those with Downs Syndrome rarely have any type of severe physical limitations or concerns.

This condition is different for everyone that has it in severity and limitations. However, most of those with Downs Syndrome are able to be integrated into public schools, sports, and the workplace. They may have certain limitations when it comes to their understanding of complex concepts but typically can handle money and a budget, manage their own apartment or home, and can also care for a baby when needed. The majority of those with this condition can care for themselves and their family as well as anyone else.

It's very shortsighted to assume that anyone with Downs Syndrome is severely disabled or unable to function or make decisions on his or her own. Again, this condition affects each patient differently, but the vast majority is just as functioning as anyone else.

Some years ago there was a very popular television series that revolved around a young man with Downs Syndrome, his family, and his schooling. They portrayed how successful he was in fitting in with other classmates, making decisions about his own activities, and even in running for class president. The TV series was very realistic about his limitations as well, but was an honest portrayal of what it's like to have this condition. Anyone with Downs Syndrome should be considered as capable and functioning as anyone else, and should be given every chance to succeed.

DO NOT GIVE CALCIUM SUPPLEMENTS. It is believed that large unused quantifies of calcium inn the downs syndrome fetus was a major contributing factor in causing the health related problems. Common Vitamins and over the counter products may help with Downs Syndrome.

Boron is known as the calcium helper and assists calcium absorption and utilization in the body.

Vitamin E promotes the natural body healing mechanism and oxygen to the heart and other muscles in the body. In addition it improves circulation.

Ginkgo is needed for the proper functioning of the vascular system and for improving blood circulation to the brain.

Vitamin B is known to help maintain the normal vasodilatation.

Amino Acid helps regulate growth, digestion and maintaining the body's immune system.

Oat Bran helps to regulate blood glucose levels, aids in lowering cholesterol, and helps in the removal of toxins.

Vitamin C is essential for defending the body against pollution and infections and enhances the immune system.

Always consult your doctor before using this information.

Learning About the Down Syndrome Disability By Mike Selvon

Down syndrome is the most common developmental disability in the US. A Down syndrome baby is noticeable by the small ears, small head, small eyes, slightly upturned nose, flat facial features and round head. They will require more time developing, learning to breast feed, rolling over, walking, talking and dressing themselves. However, parents of babies with Down syndrome often say, if given the choice, they wouldn't change a thing and that raising their unique child was one of the greatest things they could have done with their lives.

When learning about Down syndrome, you will discover there is a build-up of additional genetic material on the 21st chromosome. Doctors aren't 100% sure what causes this abnormality, but they do know that parental age increases the risk. Eighty percent of Down syndrome babies are born to parents under 35, which is probably because more people in that age bracket are having children.

Statistically speaking, a 25-year-old woman has a 1/3,000 chance of having a baby with Down syndrome, while a 35-year-old-woman has 1/365 odds of having a Down syndrome baby. By 45 years of age, her baby has a 1/30 chance of having downs! It is very rarely passed down genetically and it is estimated that only 3-4% of all downs cases are caused from inherited translocation of genetic material, while the rest appear to be caused by random, abnormal chromosomal activity.

There are some common medical conditions that people with this chromosomal disorder may face. Half of Down syndrome babies are born with heart defects and increased susceptibility to illnesses. Often, they are born with a hearing impairment or poor vision, and will likely encounter a speech impediment, sleep apnea or chronic ear infections later down the road. As a parent, you'll need to find a trusted, specialized, medical practitioner. You may find local resources through the National Down Syndrome Society at "Ndss".

A support net is waiting for you; one mouse-click away. You can meet with other parents who have already gone through raising a child with Down syndrome. You can learn coping and teaching techniques or find an inspirational book that fills your heart with joy. Your life will be forever changed when any baby enters your life and you find that love can help you overcome anything. By participating in one of the many local community programs, you'll find greater strength.