Comparison of the Upper and Lower Extremity and Trunk Muscle Masses between Children with Down Syndrome and Children with Typical Development.

PURPOSE: Comparison of not only the upper and lower extremity but also trunk muscle masses measured by means of an ultrasound imaging device between children with Down syndrome (DS) and children with typical development (TD).

METHODS

The study included 35 children with TD (TD group) and 26 children with DS (DS group). The upper and lower extremity and trunk muscle thicknesses were measured using an ultrasound imaging device.

RESULTS

The thicknesses of the rectus abdominis, obliquus externus and internus abdominis, rectus femoris, and short head of the biceps femoris muscles were significantly lower in the DS group than in the TD group. The thicknesses of the other upper and lower extremity and trunk muscles did not differ significantly between the groups.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this study demonstrated lower masses of trunk flexor and knee extensor and flexor muscles in children with DS compared to those in children with TD.