Abstract
Background/Aims Children with Down's syndrome are often considered to be sedentary and less likely to engage in the recommended levels of physical activity. The aim of this study was to compare the walking capacity of children with Down's syndrome with a group of typically healthy age-matched children in Saudi Arabia.
Methods A total of 78 children aged from 8 to 12 years participated in the study. They were divided into two groups. The first group comprised 37 children with Down's syndrome, recruited from the Down's Syndrome Charitable Association and Al-Nahda Schools. The second group comprised 41 children with typical development, who were recruited from regular schools in the same region. Walking capacity was measured with the 6-Minute Walk Test.
Results The children with Down's syndrome had significantly reduced 6-Minute Walk Distance scores than children with typical development.
Conclusions There is a need to establish good strategies, programmes and early interventions designed to promote physical activity levels and improve the quality of life for people with Down's syndrome.