Trial Outcomes & Findings for Use of Partial Body Weight Support Play Environment to Encourage Mobility and Exploration in Infants With Down Syndrome (NCT NCT05307523)

NCT ID: NCT05307523

Last Updated: 2024-05-02

Results Overview

Right Ankle mounted accelerometer (Actigraph GT3X+) data were collected at each assessment point. The sensors were placed on the child's right side ankle and covered with wristbands. The sensors were set to capture data in 1-second epochs during all play sessions. Mean activity counts were calculated by categorizing change in vector magnitude movement counts across a 15-second interval, with higher counts representing more lower extremity movement.

Recruitment status

COMPLETED

Study phase

NA

Target enrollment

17 participants

Primary outcome timeframe

Baseline (week 1) and mid study (week 5)

Results posted on

2024-05-02

Participant Flow

Recruitment started on February 14, 2022, at a research office in the Center on Human Development and Disability (now called Institute on Human Development and Disability) and finished on May 13, 2023.

The initial assignment was random using the Excel randomization Function, then there was a washout period of one week after the first arm is completed

Participant milestones

Participant milestones
Measure
Group AB Enriched Environment Play (EEP) With Harness First
Enriched environment play, movement, and exploration for children with Down Syndrome while using a harness that provides portable partial body weight support to facilitate movement and exploration. This harness is a low-tech portable canopy with a partial-body weight harness system that allows a child and their caregiver to play freely in an 81-square-foot space and provides partial body weight offset to support movement and exploration. Then, Enriched Play Environment without the harness (Partial Body Weight Support). The child and caregiver will play freely in the 81-square-foot play space without being connected to the partial body weight support harness.
Group BA Enriched Environment Play (EEP) Without Harness First
Enriched environment play, movement, and exploration for children with Down Syndrome while Not using the harness that provides a portable partial body weight support. Then, Enriched Play Environment with the use of the harness (Partial Body Weight Support). This harness is a low-tech portable canopy with a partial-body weight harness system that allows a child and their caregiver to play freely in an 81-square-foot space and provides partial body weight offset to support movement and exploration. The child and caregiver will play freely in the 81-square-foot play space without being connected to the partial body weight support harness.
First Condition (3 Weeks)
STARTED
11
6
First Condition (3 Weeks)
COMPLETED
9
6
First Condition (3 Weeks)
NOT COMPLETED
2
0
Washout (1 Week)
STARTED
9
6
Washout (1 Week)
COMPLETED
9
6
Washout (1 Week)
NOT COMPLETED
0
0
Second Condition (3 Weeks)
STARTED
9
6
Second Condition (3 Weeks)
COMPLETED
9
6
Second Condition (3 Weeks)
NOT COMPLETED
0
0

Reasons for withdrawal

Reasons for withdrawal
Measure
Group AB Enriched Environment Play (EEP) With Harness First
Enriched environment play, movement, and exploration for children with Down Syndrome while using a harness that provides portable partial body weight support to facilitate movement and exploration. This harness is a low-tech portable canopy with a partial-body weight harness system that allows a child and their caregiver to play freely in an 81-square-foot space and provides partial body weight offset to support movement and exploration. Then, Enriched Play Environment without the harness (Partial Body Weight Support). The child and caregiver will play freely in the 81-square-foot play space without being connected to the partial body weight support harness.
Group BA Enriched Environment Play (EEP) Without Harness First
Enriched environment play, movement, and exploration for children with Down Syndrome while Not using the harness that provides a portable partial body weight support. Then, Enriched Play Environment with the use of the harness (Partial Body Weight Support). This harness is a low-tech portable canopy with a partial-body weight harness system that allows a child and their caregiver to play freely in an 81-square-foot space and provides partial body weight offset to support movement and exploration. The child and caregiver will play freely in the 81-square-foot play space without being connected to the partial body weight support harness.
First Condition (3 Weeks)
Lost to Follow-up
1
0
First Condition (3 Weeks)
Withdrawal by Subject
1
0

Baseline Characteristics

These measurements are excluding the 2 participants who dropped out of the AB group.

Baseline characteristics by cohort

Baseline characteristics by cohort
Measure
Group AB Enriched Environment Play (EEP) With Harness First
n=11 Participants
Enriched environment play, movement, and exploration for children with Down Syndrome while using a harness that provides portable partial body weight support to facilitate movement and exploration. This harness is a low-tech portable canopy with a partial-body weight harness system that allows a child and their caregiver to play freely in an 81-square-foot space and provides partial body weight offset to support movement and exploration. Then,Enriched Play Environment without the harness (Partial Body Weight Support). The child and caregiver will play freely in the 81-square-foot play space without being connected to the partial body weight support harness.
Group BA Enriched Environment Play (EEP) Without Harness First
n=6 Participants
Enriched environment play, movement, and exploration for children with Down Syndrome while Not using the harness that provides a portable partial body weight support. Then, Enriched Play Environment with the use of the harness (Partial Body Weight Support). This harness is a low-tech portable canopy with a partial-body weight harness system that allows a child and their caregiver to play freely in an 81-square-foot space and provides partial body weight offset to support movement and exploration.
Total
n=17 Participants
Total of all reporting groups
Age, Continuous
19.10 Months
STANDARD_DEVIATION 5.91 • n=11 Participants
17.4 Months
STANDARD_DEVIATION 6.56 • n=6 Participants
18.39 Months
STANDARD_DEVIATION 6.04 • n=17 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
4 Participants
n=11 Participants
5 Participants
n=6 Participants
9 Participants
n=17 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
7 Participants
n=11 Participants
1 Participants
n=6 Participants
8 Participants
n=17 Participants
Race/Ethnicity, Customized
White
6 Participants
n=11 Participants
2 Participants
n=6 Participants
8 Participants
n=17 Participants
Race/Ethnicity, Customized
White & Asian
2 Participants
n=11 Participants
2 Participants
n=6 Participants
4 Participants
n=17 Participants
Race/Ethnicity, Customized
American Indian or Alaska Native, White
1 Participants
n=11 Participants
0 Participants
n=6 Participants
1 Participants
n=17 Participants
Race/Ethnicity, Customized
Asian
1 Participants
n=11 Participants
1 Participants
n=6 Participants
2 Participants
n=17 Participants
Race/Ethnicity, Customized
Other
1 Participants
n=11 Participants
1 Participants
n=6 Participants
2 Participants
n=17 Participants
Region of Enrollment
United States
11 participants
n=11 Participants
6 participants
n=6 Participants
17 participants
n=17 Participants
Movement Counts Per 15 Seconds
124.20 movement counts per 15 seconds
STANDARD_DEVIATION 99.99 • n=9 Participants • These measurements are excluding the 2 participants who dropped out of the AB group.
227.21 movement counts per 15 seconds
STANDARD_DEVIATION 197.66 • n=6 Participants • These measurements are excluding the 2 participants who dropped out of the AB group.
175.71 movement counts per 15 seconds
STANDARD_DEVIATION 148.83 • n=15 Participants • These measurements are excluding the 2 participants who dropped out of the AB group.
GMFM-88
45.7 Score on a scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 5.6 • n=9 Participants • These measurements exclude the 2 participants who dropped out of the AB group.
37.1 Score on a scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 11.5 • n=6 Participants • These measurements exclude the 2 participants who dropped out of the AB group.
41.4 Score on a scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 8.6 • n=15 Participants • These measurements exclude the 2 participants who dropped out of the AB group.
DMQ-18 General Competency Scale
1.8 score on a scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 0.52 • n=9 Participants • These measurements are excluding the 2 participants who dropped out of the AB group.
1.8 score on a scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 0.61 • n=6 Participants • These measurements are excluding the 2 participants who dropped out of the AB group.
1.8 score on a scale
STANDARD_DEVIATION 0.54 • n=15 Participants • These measurements are excluding the 2 participants who dropped out of the AB group.
Percentage of time spent upright
28.98 percentage of time spent upright
STANDARD_DEVIATION 19.63 • n=9 Participants • These measurements do not include the 2 participants who dropped out of the AB group.
23.44 percentage of time spent upright
STANDARD_DEVIATION 16.16 • n=6 Participants • These measurements do not include the 2 participants who dropped out of the AB group.
26.21 percentage of time spent upright
STANDARD_DEVIATION 17.90 • n=15 Participants • These measurements do not include the 2 participants who dropped out of the AB group.

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: Baseline (week 1) and mid study (week 5)

Population: 2 Dropped off

Right Ankle mounted accelerometer (Actigraph GT3X+) data were collected at each assessment point. The sensors were placed on the child's right side ankle and covered with wristbands. The sensors were set to capture data in 1-second epochs during all play sessions. Mean activity counts were calculated by categorizing change in vector magnitude movement counts across a 15-second interval, with higher counts representing more lower extremity movement.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Group AB Enriched Environment Play (EEP) With Harness First
n=9 Participants
Enriched environment play, movement, and exploration for children with Down Syndrome while using a harness that provides portable partial body weight support to facilitate movement and exploration. This harness is a low-tech portable canopy with a partial-body weight harness system that allows a child and their caregiver to play freely in an 81-square-foot space and provides partial body weight offset to support movement and exploration. Then, Enriched Play Environment without the harness (Partial Body Weight Support). The child and caregiver will play freely in the 81-square-foot play space without being connected to the partial body weight support harness.
Group BA Enriched Environment Play (EEP) Without Harness First
n=6 Participants
Enriched environment play, movement, and exploration for children with Down Syndrome while not using the harness that provides a portable partial body weight support. Then, Enriched Play Environment with the use of the harness (Partial Body Weight Support). This harness is a low-tech portable canopy with a partial-body weight harness system that allows a child and their caregiver to play freely in an 81-square-foot space and provides partial body weight offset to support movement and exploration.
Change in Movement Counts Per 15 Seconds From Baseline (Week 1) to Mid Study (Week 5)
-34.46 movement counts per 15 seconds
Standard Deviation 66.93
-88.62 movement counts per 15 seconds
Standard Deviation 158.87

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: Mid study (week 5) and Final study (week 9)

Population: 2 dropped out

Right Ankle mounted accelerometer (Actigraph GT3X+) data were collected at each assessment point. The sensors were placed on the child's right side ankle and covered with wristbands. The sensors were set to capture data in 1-second epochs during all play sessions. Mean activity counts were calculated by categorizing change in vector magnitude movement counts across a 15-second interval, with higher counts representing more lower extremity movement.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Group AB Enriched Environment Play (EEP) With Harness First
n=9 Participants
Enriched environment play, movement, and exploration for children with Down Syndrome while using a harness that provides portable partial body weight support to facilitate movement and exploration. This harness is a low-tech portable canopy with a partial-body weight harness system that allows a child and their caregiver to play freely in an 81-square-foot space and provides partial body weight offset to support movement and exploration. Then, Enriched Play Environment without the harness (Partial Body Weight Support). The child and caregiver will play freely in the 81-square-foot play space without being connected to the partial body weight support harness.
Group BA Enriched Environment Play (EEP) Without Harness First
n=6 Participants
Enriched environment play, movement, and exploration for children with Down Syndrome while not using the harness that provides a portable partial body weight support. Then, Enriched Play Environment with the use of the harness (Partial Body Weight Support). This harness is a low-tech portable canopy with a partial-body weight harness system that allows a child and their caregiver to play freely in an 81-square-foot space and provides partial body weight offset to support movement and exploration.
Change in Movement Counts Per 15 Seconds From Mid Study (Week 5) to Final (Week 9)
28.91 movement counts per 15 seconds
Standard Deviation 61.49
-9.75 movement counts per 15 seconds
Standard Deviation 80.89

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: Baseline (week 1) and Final Study (week 9)

Population: 2 dropped out

Right Ankle mounted accelerometer (Actigraph GT3X+) data were collected at each assessment point. The sensors were placed on the child's right side ankle and covered with wristbands. The sensors were set to capture data in 1-second epochs during all play sessions. Mean activity counts were calculated by categorizing change in vector magnitude movement counts across a 15-second interval, with higher counts representing more lower extremity movement.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Group AB Enriched Environment Play (EEP) With Harness First
n=9 Participants
Enriched environment play, movement, and exploration for children with Down Syndrome while using a harness that provides portable partial body weight support to facilitate movement and exploration. This harness is a low-tech portable canopy with a partial-body weight harness system that allows a child and their caregiver to play freely in an 81-square-foot space and provides partial body weight offset to support movement and exploration. Then, Enriched Play Environment without the harness (Partial Body Weight Support). The child and caregiver will play freely in the 81-square-foot play space without being connected to the partial body weight support harness.
Group BA Enriched Environment Play (EEP) Without Harness First
n=6 Participants
Enriched environment play, movement, and exploration for children with Down Syndrome while not using the harness that provides a portable partial body weight support. Then, Enriched Play Environment with the use of the harness (Partial Body Weight Support). This harness is a low-tech portable canopy with a partial-body weight harness system that allows a child and their caregiver to play freely in an 81-square-foot space and provides partial body weight offset to support movement and exploration.
Change in Movement Counts Per 15 Seconds From Baseline (Week 1) to Final (Week 9)
1.86 movement counts per 15 seconds
Standard Deviation 68.99
-98.75 movement counts per 15 seconds
Standard Deviation 122.31

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: Baseline (week 1) and mid study (week 5)

Population: 2 dropped out

The Gross Motor Function Measure-88 is a standardized, validated outcome measure in children with Down Syndrome used to assess progress in gross motor development domains of lying and rolling (score range 0-51), sitting (score range 0-60), crawling and kneeling (score range 0-42), standing (score range 0-39) and walking, running, and jumping (score range 0-72). Higher scores in each domain indicate better outcomes. Item scores are summed to calculate raw and percent scores for each of the five GMFM-88 dimensions. Dimension scores are averaged to obtain an overall total score.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Group AB Enriched Environment Play (EEP) With Harness First
n=9 Participants
Enriched environment play, movement, and exploration for children with Down Syndrome while using a harness that provides portable partial body weight support to facilitate movement and exploration. This harness is a low-tech portable canopy with a partial-body weight harness system that allows a child and their caregiver to play freely in an 81-square-foot space and provides partial body weight offset to support movement and exploration. Then, Enriched Play Environment without the harness (Partial Body Weight Support). The child and caregiver will play freely in the 81-square-foot play space without being connected to the partial body weight support harness.
Group BA Enriched Environment Play (EEP) Without Harness First
n=6 Participants
Enriched environment play, movement, and exploration for children with Down Syndrome while not using the harness that provides a portable partial body weight support. Then, Enriched Play Environment with the use of the harness (Partial Body Weight Support). This harness is a low-tech portable canopy with a partial-body weight harness system that allows a child and their caregiver to play freely in an 81-square-foot space and provides partial body weight offset to support movement and exploration.
Change in Gross Motor Performance Using the Gross Motor Function Measure-88 Scores From Baseline (Week 1) to Mid Study (Week 5)
7.01 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 3.09
1.57 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 2.89

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: Mid study (Week 5) to Final (Week 9)

Population: 2 dropped out

The Gross Motor Function Measure-88 is a standardized, validated outcome measure in children with Down Syndrome used to assess progress in gross motor development domains of lying and rolling (score range 0-51), sitting (score range 0-60), crawling and kneeling (score range 0-42), standing (score range 0-39) and walking, running, and jumping (score range 0-72). Higher scores in each domain indicate better outcomes. Item scores are summed to calculate raw and percent scores for each of the five GMFM-88 dimensions. Dimension scores are averaged to obtain an overall total score.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Group AB Enriched Environment Play (EEP) With Harness First
n=9 Participants
Enriched environment play, movement, and exploration for children with Down Syndrome while using a harness that provides portable partial body weight support to facilitate movement and exploration. This harness is a low-tech portable canopy with a partial-body weight harness system that allows a child and their caregiver to play freely in an 81-square-foot space and provides partial body weight offset to support movement and exploration. Then, Enriched Play Environment without the harness (Partial Body Weight Support). The child and caregiver will play freely in the 81-square-foot play space without being connected to the partial body weight support harness.
Group BA Enriched Environment Play (EEP) Without Harness First
n=6 Participants
Enriched environment play, movement, and exploration for children with Down Syndrome while not using the harness that provides a portable partial body weight support. Then, Enriched Play Environment with the use of the harness (Partial Body Weight Support). This harness is a low-tech portable canopy with a partial-body weight harness system that allows a child and their caregiver to play freely in an 81-square-foot space and provides partial body weight offset to support movement and exploration.
Change in Gross Motor Performance Using the Gross Motor Function Measure-88 Scores From Mid Study (Week 5) to Final (Week 9)
4.17 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 2.85
6.28 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 3.04

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: Baseline (week 1) to Final study (week 9)

Population: 2 dropped out

The Gross Motor Function Measure-88 is a standardized, validated outcome measure in children with Down Syndrome used to assess progress in gross motor development domains of lying and rolling (score range 0-51), sitting (score range 0-60), crawling and kneeling (score range 0-42), standing (score range 0-39) and walking, running, and jumping (score range 0-72). Higher scores in each domain indicate better outcomes. Item scores are summed to calculate raw and percent scores for each of the five GMFM-88 dimensions. Dimension scores are averaged to obtain an overall total score.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Group AB Enriched Environment Play (EEP) With Harness First
n=9 Participants
Enriched environment play, movement, and exploration for children with Down Syndrome while using a harness that provides portable partial body weight support to facilitate movement and exploration. This harness is a low-tech portable canopy with a partial-body weight harness system that allows a child and their caregiver to play freely in an 81-square-foot space and provides partial body weight offset to support movement and exploration. Then, Enriched Play Environment without the harness (Partial Body Weight Support). The child and caregiver will play freely in the 81-square-foot play space without being connected to the partial body weight support harness.
Group BA Enriched Environment Play (EEP) Without Harness First
n=6 Participants
Enriched environment play, movement, and exploration for children with Down Syndrome while not using the harness that provides a portable partial body weight support. Then, Enriched Play Environment with the use of the harness (Partial Body Weight Support). This harness is a low-tech portable canopy with a partial-body weight harness system that allows a child and their caregiver to play freely in an 81-square-foot space and provides partial body weight offset to support movement and exploration.
Change in Gross Motor Performance Using the Gross Motor Function Measure-88 Scores From Baseline (Week 1) to Final (Weeks 9)
12.38 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 3.84
8.81 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 4.0

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: Baseline (week 1) and mid study (week 5)

Population: 2 dropped out

The Revised Dimensions of Mastery Questionnaire has one general competence scale and six mastery motivation scales of persistence: cognitive/object, gross motor, social-adults, social- children/peers, mastery pleasure, and negative reactions to challenge in mastery situations. It is completed by caregivers and has a score range of 41-205, with higher scores indicating greater mastery motivation observed for their child. The general competence score was calculated using the infant scoring formula \[General Competence= Summing the scores of items 4+10+20+27+31, then the total is divided by 5.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Group AB Enriched Environment Play (EEP) With Harness First
n=9 Participants
Enriched environment play, movement, and exploration for children with Down Syndrome while using a harness that provides portable partial body weight support to facilitate movement and exploration. This harness is a low-tech portable canopy with a partial-body weight harness system that allows a child and their caregiver to play freely in an 81-square-foot space and provides partial body weight offset to support movement and exploration. Then, Enriched Play Environment without the harness (Partial Body Weight Support). The child and caregiver will play freely in the 81-square-foot play space without being connected to the partial body weight support harness.
Group BA Enriched Environment Play (EEP) Without Harness First
n=6 Participants
Enriched environment play, movement, and exploration for children with Down Syndrome while not using the harness that provides a portable partial body weight support. Then, Enriched Play Environment with the use of the harness (Partial Body Weight Support). This harness is a low-tech portable canopy with a partial-body weight harness system that allows a child and their caregiver to play freely in an 81-square-foot space and provides partial body weight offset to support movement and exploration.
Change in Caregiver Perception of Their Child's Mastery Motivation Using the Revised Dimensions of Mastery Questionnaire-18 Infant Version From Baseline (Week 1) to Mid Study (Week 5)
0.47 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 0.32
0.5 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 0.52

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: Mid study (week 5) to Final (week 9)

Population: 2 dropped out

The Revised Dimensions of Mastery Questionnaire has one general competence scale and six mastery motivation scales of persistence: cognitive/object, gross motor, social-adults, social- children/peers, mastery pleasure, and negative reactions to challenge in mastery situations. It is completed by caregivers and has a score range of 41-205, with higher scores indicating greater mastery motivation observed for their child. The general competence score was calculated using the infant scoring formula \[General Competence= Summing the scores of items 4+10+20+27+31, then the total is divided by 5.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Group AB Enriched Environment Play (EEP) With Harness First
n=9 Participants
Enriched environment play, movement, and exploration for children with Down Syndrome while using a harness that provides portable partial body weight support to facilitate movement and exploration. This harness is a low-tech portable canopy with a partial-body weight harness system that allows a child and their caregiver to play freely in an 81-square-foot space and provides partial body weight offset to support movement and exploration. Then, Enriched Play Environment without the harness (Partial Body Weight Support). The child and caregiver will play freely in the 81-square-foot play space without being connected to the partial body weight support harness.
Group BA Enriched Environment Play (EEP) Without Harness First
n=6 Participants
Enriched environment play, movement, and exploration for children with Down Syndrome while not using the harness that provides a portable partial body weight support. Then, Enriched Play Environment with the use of the harness (Partial Body Weight Support). This harness is a low-tech portable canopy with a partial-body weight harness system that allows a child and their caregiver to play freely in an 81-square-foot space and provides partial body weight offset to support movement and exploration.
Change in Caregiver Perception of Their Child's Mastery Motivation Using the Revised Dimensions of Mastery Questionnaire-18 Infant Version From Mid Study (Week 5) to Final (Week 9)
0.27 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 0.35
0.43 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 0.23

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: Baseline (week 1) to Final (week 9)

Population: 2 dropped out

The Revised Dimensions of Mastery Questionnaire has one general competence scale and six mastery motivation scales of persistence: cognitive/object, gross motor, social-adults, social- children/peers, mastery pleasure, and negative reactions to challenge in mastery situations. It is completed by caregivers and has a score range of 41-205, with higher scores indicating greater mastery motivation observed for their child. The general competence score was calculated using the infant scoring formula \[General Competence= Summing the scores of items 4+10+20+27+31, then the total is divided by 5.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Group AB Enriched Environment Play (EEP) With Harness First
n=9 Participants
Enriched environment play, movement, and exploration for children with Down Syndrome while using a harness that provides portable partial body weight support to facilitate movement and exploration. This harness is a low-tech portable canopy with a partial-body weight harness system that allows a child and their caregiver to play freely in an 81-square-foot space and provides partial body weight offset to support movement and exploration. Then, Enriched Play Environment without the harness (Partial Body Weight Support). The child and caregiver will play freely in the 81-square-foot play space without being connected to the partial body weight support harness.
Group BA Enriched Environment Play (EEP) Without Harness First
n=6 Participants
Enriched environment play, movement, and exploration for children with Down Syndrome while not using the harness that provides a portable partial body weight support. Then, Enriched Play Environment with the use of the harness (Partial Body Weight Support). This harness is a low-tech portable canopy with a partial-body weight harness system that allows a child and their caregiver to play freely in an 81-square-foot space and provides partial body weight offset to support movement and exploration.
Change in Caregiver Perception of Their Child's Mastery Motivation Using the Revised Dimensions of Mastery Questionnaire-18 Infant Version From Baseline (Week 1) to Final (Week 9)
0.33 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 0.32
0.67 score on a scale
Standard Deviation 0.37

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: From baseline (week 1) to Mid study (week 5)

Population: 2 dropped out

Percentage of time spent in upright positions (supported or unsupported standing, supported stepping, cruising), were assessed from R ankle-worn accelerometer data. Position was calculated using tri-axial orientation values of the accelerometer relative to the ground, and were verified using a behavioral video coding scheme that document child positioning every 6 seconds during a 30 minute play session. Percentage of time spent in each position was calculated at each assessment point, with higher percentages equating to more time spent upright and on feet.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Group AB Enriched Environment Play (EEP) With Harness First
n=9 Participants
Enriched environment play, movement, and exploration for children with Down Syndrome while using a harness that provides portable partial body weight support to facilitate movement and exploration. This harness is a low-tech portable canopy with a partial-body weight harness system that allows a child and their caregiver to play freely in an 81-square-foot space and provides partial body weight offset to support movement and exploration. Then, Enriched Play Environment without the harness (Partial Body Weight Support). The child and caregiver will play freely in the 81-square-foot play space without being connected to the partial body weight support harness.
Group BA Enriched Environment Play (EEP) Without Harness First
n=6 Participants
Enriched environment play, movement, and exploration for children with Down Syndrome while not using the harness that provides a portable partial body weight support. Then, Enriched Play Environment with the use of the harness (Partial Body Weight Support). This harness is a low-tech portable canopy with a partial-body weight harness system that allows a child and their caregiver to play freely in an 81-square-foot space and provides partial body weight offset to support movement and exploration.
Change in Percentage of Time Spent in Upright (on Feet) Between Baseline (Week 1) and Mid Study (Week 5)
9.61 percentage of time spent in upright
Standard Deviation 31.83
-3.51 percentage of time spent in upright
Standard Deviation 15.1

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: Mid Study (week 5) to Final (week 9)

Population: 2 dropped out

Percentage of time spent in upright positions (supported or unsupported standing, supported stepping, cruising), were assessed from R ankle-worn accelerometer data. Position was calculated using tri-axial orientation values of the accelerometer relative to the ground, and were verified using a behavioral video coding scheme that document child positioning every 6 seconds during a 30 minute play session. Percentage of time spent in each position was calculated at each assessment point, with higher percentages equating to more time spent upright and on feet.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Group AB Enriched Environment Play (EEP) With Harness First
n=9 Participants
Enriched environment play, movement, and exploration for children with Down Syndrome while using a harness that provides portable partial body weight support to facilitate movement and exploration. This harness is a low-tech portable canopy with a partial-body weight harness system that allows a child and their caregiver to play freely in an 81-square-foot space and provides partial body weight offset to support movement and exploration. Then, Enriched Play Environment without the harness (Partial Body Weight Support). The child and caregiver will play freely in the 81-square-foot play space without being connected to the partial body weight support harness.
Group BA Enriched Environment Play (EEP) Without Harness First
n=6 Participants
Enriched environment play, movement, and exploration for children with Down Syndrome while not using the harness that provides a portable partial body weight support. Then, Enriched Play Environment with the use of the harness (Partial Body Weight Support). This harness is a low-tech portable canopy with a partial-body weight harness system that allows a child and their caregiver to play freely in an 81-square-foot space and provides partial body weight offset to support movement and exploration.
Change in Percentage of Time Spent in Upright (on Feet) Between Mid Study (Week 5) and Final (Week 9)
1.7 percentage of time spent in upright
Standard Deviation 15.7
5.8 percentage of time spent in upright
Standard Deviation 28.6

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: Baseline (week 1) and Final Study (week 9)

Population: 2 dropped out

Percentage of time spent in upright positions (supported or unsupported standing, supported stepping, cruising), were assessed from R ankle-worn accelerometer data. Position was calculated using tri-axial orientation values of the accelerometer relative to the ground, and were verified using a behavioral video coding scheme that document child positioning every 6 seconds during a 30 minute play session. Percentage of time spent in each position was calculated at each assessment point, with higher percentages equating to more time spent upright and on feet.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Group AB Enriched Environment Play (EEP) With Harness First
n=9 Participants
Enriched environment play, movement, and exploration for children with Down Syndrome while using a harness that provides portable partial body weight support to facilitate movement and exploration. This harness is a low-tech portable canopy with a partial-body weight harness system that allows a child and their caregiver to play freely in an 81-square-foot space and provides partial body weight offset to support movement and exploration. Then, Enriched Play Environment without the harness (Partial Body Weight Support). The child and caregiver will play freely in the 81-square-foot play space without being connected to the partial body weight support harness.
Group BA Enriched Environment Play (EEP) Without Harness First
n=6 Participants
Enriched environment play, movement, and exploration for children with Down Syndrome while not using the harness that provides a portable partial body weight support. Then, Enriched Play Environment with the use of the harness (Partial Body Weight Support). This harness is a low-tech portable canopy with a partial-body weight harness system that allows a child and their caregiver to play freely in an 81-square-foot space and provides partial body weight offset to support movement and exploration.
Change in Percentage of Time Spent in Upright (on Feet) Between Baseline (Week 1) and Final Study (Week 9)
14.9 percentage of time spent in upright
Standard Deviation 20.8
3.56 percentage of time spent in upright
Standard Deviation 23.3

Adverse Events

Group AB Enriched Environment Play (EEP) With Harness

Serious events: 0 serious events
Other events: 0 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths

Group BA Enriched Environment Play (EEP) Without Harness

Serious events: 0 serious events
Other events: 0 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths

Serious adverse events

Adverse event data not reported

Other adverse events

Adverse event data not reported

Additional Information

Reham A. Abuatiq, Research coordinator and a PhD candidate

University of Washington

Phone: 6198309638

Results disclosure agreements

  • Principal investigator is a sponsor employee
  • Publication restrictions are in place