School of Physiotherapy and the Musculoskeletal Research Centre, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Vic., Australia.
J Intellect Disabil Res. 2011 Nov;55(11):1020-33. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2788.2011.01425.x. Epub 2011 May 10.
Many children with Down syndrome do not undertake the recommended amount of daily physical activity. The aim of this study was to explore the barriers and facilitators to physical activity for this group.
Eighteen in-depth interviews were conducted with 20 parents (16 mothers, 4 fathers) of children with Down syndrome aged between 2 and 17 years to examine what factors facilitate physical activity and what factors are barriers to activity for their children. The participants were recruited through a community disability organisation that advocates for people with Down syndrome and their families. Interviews were recorded, transcribed and independently coded and analysed by two researchers using thematic analysis.
Four themes on facilitators of physical activity were identified: (1) the positive role of the family; (2) opportunity for social interaction with peers; (3) structured accessible programmes that make adaptations for children with Down syndrome; and (4) children who were determined to succeed and physically skilled. Four themes on the barriers to physical activity were also identified: (1) characteristics commonly associated with Down syndrome; (2) competing family responsibilities; (3) reduced physical or behavioural skills; and (4) a lack of accessible programmes.
The results highlight the important role of families in determining how much physical activity children with Down syndrome undertake and the effect that common characteristics associated with Down syndrome can have on maintaining an active lifestyle. Future research needs to concentrate on successful methods of encouraging physical activity, such as ensuring social interaction is part of the activity, and eliminating barriers to physical activity such as the a lack of appropriate programmes for children with Down syndrome. Implementing these strategies may encourage children with Down syndrome to participate more frequently in a physically active lifestyle.
许多唐氏综合征患儿的日常身体活动量未达到推荐水平。本研究旨在探讨该群体身体活动的障碍因素和促进因素。
对 20 名（16 名母亲，4 名父亲）2 至 17 岁唐氏综合征患儿的家长进行了 18 次深入访谈，以调查哪些因素促进了他们孩子的身体活动，哪些因素是活动的障碍。参与者是通过一个倡导唐氏综合征患者及其家庭的社区残疾组织招募的。访谈进行了录音、转录，并由两名研究人员独立进行编码和主题分析。
确定了四个促进身体活动的主题：（1）家庭的积极作用；（2）与同龄人进行社会互动的机会；（3）为唐氏综合征儿童进行调整的结构化可及计划；（4）有决心取得成功和身体技能的儿童。确定了四个身体活动障碍的主题：（1）与唐氏综合征相关的常见特征；（2）家庭责任竞争；（3）身体或行为技能下降；（4）缺乏可及的计划。
研究结果强调了家庭在决定唐氏综合征患儿进行多少身体活动方面的重要作用，以及与唐氏综合征相关的常见特征对保持积极生活方式的影响。未来的研究需要集中在鼓励身体活动的成功方法上，例如确保社会互动是活动的一部分，并消除身体活动的障碍，例如缺乏适合唐氏综合征儿童的计划。实施这些策略可能会鼓励唐氏综合征患儿更频繁地参与积极的生活方式。
