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Cindy is a 5 year old girl who was born with Down

Syndrome. She attends Masipumulele . At


present her physiotherapist is working on
improving her gross motor skills. She is a friendly
girl who enjoys playing. Every month her mom
and dad attend support group meetings, which
we volunteer at, run by the Chaeli Campaign and
this is how we met Cindy.


*name n/a
Conception - Ovum inherits genetic
information
Total - 47 chromosomes
Copy of 21
st
chromosome
leads to physical & cognitive delays
Identified prior to birth or at birth.
Cause - unknown









Head : Small
Neck : Short
Oral Cavity : Small, high pitched cries in infancy, tongue protrudes
Ears : Short and low set
Eyes : Slanting with folds of skin at the inner corners
Nose : Flat Bridge
Hands : Short, broad, single crease across the palm on one or
both
Feet : Broad with short toes, excessive space between large and
second toe
Tone : Poor
Hyper flexibility
Weight: Overweight



Small Head
Short and low
set ears
Short neck
Slanting eyes
Short and Broad
Hands
Flat Bridge Nose
Mental Retardation
Learning Disabilities-including Dyslexia
Cognitive Impairment
Congenital Heart Disease
Developmental Impairments
Attention-Deficit Disorder
Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
Hyperactivity
Visual
Hearing
Co-ordination
Speech











PHYSIOTHERAPIST

OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST
Delayed Milestones
Delayed Fine motor skills
Delayed Gross motor skills

AUDIOLOGIST
Hearing difficulties- liquid in the ear
-structural problems.

PEADIATRIC CARDIOLOGIST
Congenital heart defects
Developing pulmonary hypertension

OPTHALMOLOGIST
Visual problems

DIETICIAN
Weight problems

GENERAL PRACTIONER
Various medical conditions


SOCIAL WORKER
Help & Assistance

TEACHER
Improve social skills
Teaching

SPEECH THERAPIST
Expression and understanding






Factors Influencing Gross Motor
Development:
Hypotonia
Ligamentous laxity
Decreased strength
Short arms and legs
Medical problems

Develop compensatory movement patterns


Physiotherapy
Child's long-term functional outcome
Minimize the development of compensatory
movement patterns
Build strength in the appropriate muscle
groups so that the child develops optimal
movement patterns
Focus on gait, posture and exercise



Objectives of the post-walking skills
Improved foot alignment
Longer steps
Weight shift onto the lateral borders of the feet
Active ankle movements
Rotation of the pelvis on the trunk
Neutral hip rotation
Tibia forward over the foot
Hip and knee flexion
Eccentric control/lowering
Hip hyperextension
Ankle plantarflexion
Ankle dorsiflexion
Neutral hip rotation when lowering
Ensuring that all the muscles arebeing used

Exercises
Walking on uneven surfaces
Kicking a ball
fast walking and running
Balance beam skills
Walk up and own inclined surfaces
Walking up and down curbs
Walking up and down stairs
Jumping on trampolines
Rolling Exercises
Riding a tricycle
Obstacle Courses
Ball Games- Passing the Ball over, Under and
through




Websites
www.aappolicy.aappublications.org
www.healthboards.com
www.downsyndrome.org.za

Books
Down Syndrome: The Facts
By Mark Selikowitz
Babies with Down's Syndrome: A New Parents' Guide (Special Needs Collection)
From Woodbine House Inc.,U.S.
Speech and Language Development for Infants with Down Syndrome (0-5 Years): Speech
and Language Pt. 2 (Down Syndrome Issues & Inforation)
By Gillian Bird, Susan Buckley

Phone Numbers

Down Syndrome Association 021 949 0900
Chaeli Campaign- 021 715 0525
THINK of me FIRST as a PERSON

You look at me with pity, concern or indifference,
for I am a disabled child.
But you see only the outside me.
If I could express myself,
I would tell you what I am inside.
I am very much like you!

Think of me first as a person,
who hurts and loves and feels joy.
And know I am a child to encourage and direct.
Smile and say helloeven that is enough.

Author unknown







To Cindy and her parents, teachers
and Physiotherapists for taking
part in our assignment and
providing us with lots of useful
information
To the Chaeli Campaign for
introducing us to Cindy and her
family

Zelda Mycroft- Chaeli Campaign
Wikipedia
Pubmedcentral
Physiotherapist at Special Care Masipumelele
Google
Parents of Cindy

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