Effects of Neuromuscular Training on Children and Young Adults with Down Syndrome: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Neuromuscular play lifts strength in clients with Down syndrome, but use simple tests to prove it works.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Sugimoto et al. (2016) pooled seven studies on neuromuscular training for kids and young adults with Down syndrome. They looked at strength, balance, and how well the kids moved in daily life.
All studies used fun, game-like drills. Think hopping, stepping, and light weights. Ages ranged from kids to adults under 30.
What they found
The training gave big gains in overall strength. Max strength rose a medium amount. Small but real boosts showed up in walking and standing up from a chair.
In plain words, the kids got stronger and moved a bit easier after weeks of play-based exercise.
How this fits with other research
Iglesias-Díaz et al. (2025) built on this work. Their 2025 meta-analysis of 10 newer trials supersedes the 2016 review. They found the same strength gains but warned we still lack proof that strength drills help with real-life tasks like climbing stairs.
Lin et al. (2012) is one of the RCTs inside Dai’s pool. Their six-week game of treadmill plus virtual reality gave teens with Down syndrome stronger legs and quicker feet.
Ferry et al. (2014) shows extra benefits: the same kind of weight-bearing play also builds bone in the spine, though the gains are smaller than in typical kids.
Why it matters
If you serve clients with Down syndrome, add neuromuscular play to the plan. Short hops, light weights, or dance games three times a week can raise strength without costly gear. Track simple moves like sit-to-stand time to show families clear progress.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
PURPOSE: To synthesize existing research evidence and examine effects of neuromuscular training on general strength, maximal strength, and functional mobility tasks in children and young adults with Down syndrome. METHODS: PubMed and EBSCO were used as a data source. To attain the aim of this study, literature search was performed under following inclusion criteria: (1) included participants with Down syndrome, (2) implemented a neuromuscular training intervention and measured outcome variables of general strength, maximal strength, and functional mobility tasks, (3) had a group of participants whose mean ages were under 30 years old, (4) employed a prospective controlled design, and (5) used mean and standard deviations to express the outcome variables. Effect size was calculated from each study based on pre- and post-testing value differences in general strength, maximal strength, and functional mobility tasks between control and intervention groups. The effect size was further classified in to one of the following categories: small, moderate, and large effects. RESULTS: Seven studies met inclusion criteria. Analysis indicated large to moderate effects on general strength, moderate to small effects on maximal strength, and small effect on functional mobility tasks by neuromuscular training. CONCLUSIONS: Although there were limited studies, the results showed that neuromuscular training could be used as an effective intervention in children and young adults with Down syndrome. WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS: Synthesis of seven reviewed studies indicated that neuromuscular training could be beneficial to optimize general and maximal muscular strength development in children and young adults with Down syndrome.
Research in developmental disabilities, 2016 · doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2016.04.003