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An Exploratory Study of Righting Reactions From a Supine to a Standing Position in Adults With Down Syndrome

K Unrau, PT, is Physical Therapist, St Joseph Medical Center, 3600 E Harry, Wichita, KS 67218.
SM Hanrahan, PhD, PT, is Program Director, Department of Physical Therapy, College of Health Professions, The Wichita State University.
KH Pitetti, PhD, FACSM, is Associate Professor, Department of Physical Therapy, College of Health Professions, The Wichita State University, Campus Box 43, Wichita, KS 67260-0043 (USA).

Background and Purpose. Standing from a supine position is important for physical independence. The purpose of this study was to determine the developmental level of movement in this righting task of adults with Down syndrome. Subjects. Fifteen subjects (mean age=37.6 years, SD=18, range=22–65) with a diagnosis of Down syndrome and mild to moderate mental retardation participated in this study. Methods. Subjects were videotaped rising from a supine to a standing position during 10 repeated trials. The video record was analyzed to categorize the standing movements according to VanSant's descriptions. Results. Sixty-four percent of the upper-extremity movements, 14.6% of the axial component movements, and 33.8% of the lower-extremity movements could not be categorized according to VanSant's descriptions. Additionally, developmentally less advanced movements dominated those movements that could be categorized. Conclusion and Discussion. The great variety of movements demonstrated by these subjects in the task of standing from a supine position suggests greater motor maturity than is apparent from the movement sequences described by VanSant. Identifying appropriate standing movements in persons with Down syndrome will require weighing numerous intrinsic factors (eg, physiological and anthropometric) other than motor maturity.

Key Words: Down syndrome • Mental retardation • Motor development • Righting tasks

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Invited Commentary

Ann F VanSant
Physical Therapy 1994 74: 1122-1123. [Abstract] [PDF]