Effectiveness of Intrinsic Foot Muscle Training on Balance, Physical Activity and Quality of Life in Down’s Syndrome (DS) Children and Adult Population - A Scoping Review.

Abstract

Introduction: Down’s syndrome (DS) is one of the commonest chromosome related condition in children, which is caused by an abnormal additional presence of the 21^st chromosome. The foot muscle exercises proved to improve the individuals with flat foot problems states several studies but not with individuals with DS. Aim of this study: This scoping review specifically aims to bring effectiveness of intrinsic foot muscle strengthening in DS individuals improving their balance and gross motor functions. Method: Recent published literature in English between 2019 and 2024 was collected from five available databases: Google Scholar, PubMed, Science Direct, PubMed and EMBASE. Articles were eligible for inclusion in this review if they described intrinsic foot muscle training on balance, physical activity, and quality of life in DS children and adult population. 7 out of total 374 articles, observational, interventional, randomized control trials and systematic reviews were included from that period for analysis in this scoping review. Results and Dissemination: Seven articles were selected for inclusion in this review. Two of these articles were systematic review. The remaining studies included two randomized control trials, one systematic review and meta analysis, one comparative study and one experimental study. Of the 8 included articles, effectiveness of intrinsic foot muscle training on balance, physical activity and quality of life in DS children and adult population were identified. Conclusion: Considering the effects of intrinsic foot muscle training on adult populations with various foot functional abnormalities, it may have significant effect on DS children. Outcomes of this scoping review opens up specific treatment intervention of intrinsic foot muscle training effects on DS children with foot dysfunction.