The bone tissue of children and adolescents with Down syndrome is sensitive to mechanical stress in certain skeletal locations: a 1-year physical training program study.

The systemic complications of Down syndrome (DS) attenuate the osteogenic response to physical activity in DS patients. Through an interventional study we showed the effects of physical training on development of bone mineral content (BMC) and density (BMD) as well as on quantitative bone ultrasound (QUS) parameters in individuals with DS. A total of 42 children with DS were randomly assigned to either an exercising (DS-E, n=20, age 16 ± 1.8 years) or non-exercising group (DS-NE, n=22, age 16.9 ± 1.5 years). DS-E group was assigned to a program of osteogenic activities with 60 min sessions twice a week, over 12 month period. Bone mass measures were performed by dual X-ray absorpsiometry (DXA) at the spine and hip, and ultrasound attenuation (BUA) and velocity (SOS) assessed from the calcaneus by QUS device. All bone parameters had evolved with age, except for neck BMD. One year of training increased BMC values at lumbar spine (7%, p<.005) and total hip (10%, p<.05), and BMD values only at lumbar spine (4%, p<.05). Changes in BUA and SOS values were not evident following training. Trained individuals increased their motor skills measured through Eurofit tests. It was concluded that a program of osteogenic physical training may induce bone improvement in children with DS, but with a lower magnitude than that reported in the specialized literature for individuals without DS.