Effects of Rebounding Exercises Versus Whole Body vibration on Functional Capacity, Genu Recurvatum Angle and Bone Mineral Density in Children with Down Syndrome

Aim: To compare between the effects of rebounding exercises and whole body vibration on functional capacity, genu recurvatum angles and bone mineral density in children with Down syndrome.
Study Design: Prospective, randomized controlled study.
Place and Duration of Study: National Institute for Neuro-Motor System, Egypt, between June 2014 and September 2014.
Methodology: Thirty children with Down syndrome (16 boys and 14 girls) whose age ranged from 6 to 8 years. They were assigned randomly into two equal study groups (n=15). Study group I received rebounding exercise and study group II received whole body vibration. In addition, both groups received the same designed exercise program. Functional capacity via 6-minute walk test, genu recurvatum angles and bone mineral density were evaluated before and after 3 successive months of treatment.
Results: Significant differences were observed in both groups when comparing their pre and post-treatment mean values of all measuring variables (p<0.05). Six minute walk test was changed from (300±9.258, 294.667±9.904) meters to (350±8.451, 357.333±13.741) meters for study group I and II respectively. Right genu recurvatum angles were changed from (20.330±1.543, 19.730±1.534) degrees to (17.800±1.699, 16.130±1.885) degrees for study groups I and II, respectively while left genu recurvatum angles were changed from (19.930±1.486, 19.870±1.407) degrees to (17.600±1.549, 15.067±1.223) degrees for study groups I and II, respectively. Bone mineral density of femoral neck was changed from (0.576±0.015, 0.580±0.016) g/cm2 to (0.805±0.042, 0.831±0.066) g/cm2; distal tibia changed from (0.335±0.085, 0.339±0.089) g/cm2 to (0.485±0.095, 0.549±0.083) g/cm2; proximal tibia from (0.557±0.017, 0.565±0.017) g/cm2 to (0.781±0.053, 0.827±0.076) g/cm2 for study groups I and II, respectively. No significant differences were recorded between both groups when comparing their post-treatment mean values of six minute walk test and bone mineral density while significant differences were recorded in genu recurvatum angles in favor of the study group II (p < 0.05).
Conclusion: Both rebounding exercises and whole body vibration are effective in correcting genu recurvatum, increasing low bone mineral density and functional capacity for the children with Down syndrome. The whole body vibration in correction of genu recurvatum angle is more effective in comparison to rebounding exercises.