SYSTEMATIC REVIEW article
Front. Pediatr.
Sec. Pediatric Occupational Therapy
Exercise Interventions Improve Balance of Children with Down Syndrome:A Systematic Review
- QL
Qing Li 1
- SW
SIyu Wang 2
- JC
Jianmiao Che 1
1. Chengdu Sport University, Chengdu, China
2. West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
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Abstract
Objective: This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to evaluate the efficacy of exercise interventions on balance ability in children and adolescents with Down syndrome.(凝练了一下) Methods: We systematically searched PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science for English-language articles published from January 2010 to December 15, 2025. The review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines and registered in PROSPERO (CRD42025633811). Two independent reviewers screened studies, extracted data, and assessed risk of bias using the Cochrane RoB 2.0 tool. Meta-analyses were performed using Review Manager 5.4 and Stata 15.1, calculating pooled effect sizes, heterogeneity (I²), and publication bias (funnel plot, Egger's test) to ensure methodological rigor. Results: Seventeen randomized controlled trials (n=500) were included, with participants aged 2 – 17 years. Interventions included core stability training, whole-body vibration, traditional Indian dance, hippotherapy, and multimodal exercise. Risk of bias was low to moderate across most studies.Meta-analytic synthesis suggested that exercise interventions were associated with improvements in balance control when assessed using the Biodex Stability System (BSS) and the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency (BOTMP). Sensitivity analyses generally supported the robustness of these findings. Conclusion: Exercise interventions, particularly core stability and multimodal programs, appear effective in improving balance among children and adolescents with Down syndrome. Evidence supports moderate-to-large improvements in static and dynamic balance, although results vary by assessment tool and intervention type.(结论重新完善)
Summary
Keywords
Balance Capacity, Children, Down Syndrome, Exercise, motion
Received
19 November 2025
Accepted
28 May 2026
Copyright
© 2026 Li, Wang and Che. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
*Correspondence: Qing Li; SIyu Wang
Disclaimer
All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.