Effects of Traditional Indian Dance on Motor Skills and Balance in Children with Down syndrome

Abstract

The objective of the study was to examine the effects of traditional Indian dances like Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi and Kathak on motor skills and balance in children with Down syndrome compared to neuromuscular training. In this randomised double-arm design, 36 children with Down syndrome aged 6–10 years and with a score of <5 in Beighton’s hypermobility test participated in either Indian classical dance (n = 18) or neuromuscular training (n = 18). Both the groups practised an hour-long session a day, three days a week for six weeks in six special-schools. Test of Gross Motor Development–2 (TGMD–2), Four Square Step Test (FSST) and paediatric balance scale were the outcome measures. After six weeks of training, there is a significant group difference of change score in the Gross Motor Quotient standard score of TGMD-2 [experimental: 30.47 vs. control: 11.1], locomotor subset of TGMD-2 [experimental: 11.1 vs. control: 4.35] and FSST [experimental: 4.29 vs. control: 2.41], but not in the paediatric balance scale [experimental: 3.59 vs. control: 3.76]. The traditional Indian dance substantially improved the locomotor skills of children with Down syndrome than that of neuromuscular exercises. Both the dance and neuromuscular training equally impacted the balance capacity.

Keywords:

• Down syndrome
• dance
• balance
• motor skills
• locomotor
• object control

Acknowledgment

We are grateful to parents and teachers of children with Down syndrome. Special thanks to Divya Downs Development Trust, Chiguru Special School, Bethany Special School, Gerizim Rehabilitation Trust, Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled, and Shristi Special Academy School. We extend our gratitude to editors and reviewers of Journal of Motor Behavior, Manipal Universal Press and Manipal Academy of Higher Education.