Physical Fitness in DS: A Comparison of Cuevas Medak and Rebound Exercises

NCT ID: NCT07248449

Last Updated: 2025-11-25

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: RECRUITING
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 22 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2025-10-22
• Study Completion Date: 2026-01-30

Brief Summary

This randomized clinical trial investigates the comparative effects of Cuevas Medak Exercises Vs Rebound Exercises on physical fitness in DS. The.current study will be single blinded randomized clinical design in which nonprobability convenience sampling technique will be used. Inclusion criteria will be Down Syndrome. both genders will be included. The study involves 22 DS aged 3-8, will be assigned using lottery method, the participants will be randomly divided into two groups. One group will be given Cuevas Medek Exercises and the other with Rebound exercises. SAMU-Disability Fitness (DISFIT) battery will be used to assess the Physical Fitness in Down syndrome. Both groups will be given three treatment session per week for 12 weeks and total time for each session will be 30-45 minutes.

. Data will be analyzed through SPSS version 26.0

Detailed Description

Down syndrome is usually associated with developmental delays, mild to moderate intellectual disability, and characteristic physical features. Children with DS usually encounter problems with the motor function as a result of decreased muscle tone, ligamentous laxity, decreased muscle strength, and endurance.

Children with DS experience decreased balance capacity on account of the brain stem and cerebellar hypoplasia leading to disruption of motor function and postural control. DS children have difficulty preserving their body posture which is frequently combined with an abnormality in gait pattern Cuevas Medek Exercises (CME) is a psychomotor therapy approach for rehabilitation programs that involves automatic motor reactions using exercises against gravity provoking the postural control and also describe its neuroplastic outcome. MEDEK is an acronym for a Spanish phrase means "Dynamic Method for Kinesthetic Stimulation infuriating postural control, which is not self-produced due to impaired central nervous system. The main mechanism is to generate new neuronal networks in affected central nervous system by utilizing scientific parameters associated to neuroplasticity (such as repetition, ROM, weight bearing, progression, significant exercises). Down syndrome might be particularly susceptible to loss of basic function because of poor physical fitness. Rebounding exercises are a series of movements based on trampoline exercises, have been used for children with different physical and intellectual disabilities. The Health Bounce, this is a basic movement that involves bouncing up and down on the trampoline.

Rebounding from quality mini trampoline provides all the benefits of other aerobic exercise without the stress impact .The objective of current study is to check the effects of Cuevas Medek exercise VS rebound exercise on physical fitness in children with Down syndrome . The current study will be single blinded randomized clinical design in which nonprobability convenience sampling technique will be used. Inclusion criteria will be Down Syndrome Age ranges between 3-8 yrs, both genders will be included, children who will be able to understand the commands given to them.

Exclusion Criteria will be Patients with medical condition, contracture, musculoskeletal disorders, Atlanta 3 CUEVAS MEDEK EXERCISES VS REBOUND EXERCISES IN DOWN SYNDROME -axial instability, uncorrected vision or orthopedic surgery. Using lottery method, the participants will be randomly divided in to two groups. One group will be given Cuevas Medek Exercises and the other with Rebound exercises. SAMU-Disability Fitness (DISFIT) battery will be used to assess the Physical Fitness in Down syndrome. Both groups will be given three treatment session per week for 12 weeks and total time for each session will be 30-45 minutes. Data will be analyzed by using SPSS v 26.Sample size is 24 and is calculated by epitool

Conditions

Down Syndrome

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: OTHER
• Blinding Strategy: SINGLE

Study Groups

Experimental:11 children of DS will be given Cuevas Medak Exercises for 12 weeks

Baseline treatment will be applied to patient through following functional activities. Core strengthening exercises (isometrics) shall be given as a common treatment. This involved completing two sets of 15 repetitions with each repetition held for 5 seconds. The children in group 1 received Cuevas Medek exercise 3 times per week for 3 successive months. The patient was supported at board at the leg level with slight posterior support to maintain balance. After being lifted off the ground for a few seconds, gentle up and down oscillations were applied. The study utilized three wooden boxes with identical dimensions measuring 20cm x 40cm x 60cm each, along with a larger box, a wooden plate, and two planks of equal size measuring 17cm x 80cm. These items were arranged in various configurations to create structures such as slides, piano flaps, and stairs.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Cuevas Medak Exercises

Intervention Type: OTHER

Group A 11 children of DS will be given Cuevas Medak Exercises for 12 weeks and total time for each session will be 30-45 min. Group B 11 children of DS will be given Rebound Exercises for 15 min though this can be broken into multiple 3-5 min

Expermental:11 children of DS will be given Rebound Exercises for 15 min

Group b will receive Rebound exercise. Baseline treatment will be applied to patient. The children in group 2 received rebounding exercise 3 times per week for 3 successive months. Mini trampoline.Each rebounding session consisted of the following schedule: (3 min of rebounding) - (3 min rest) - (3 min of rebounding) - (3 min rest) - (3 min of rebounding). Thus, one treatment session corresponded to 9 min of rebounding exercise (21). side sitting and high kneeling); bouncing and / or being bounced without leaving the surface of the trampoline.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Cuevas Medak Exercises

Intervention Type: OTHER

Group A 11 children of DS will be given Cuevas Medak Exercises for 12 weeks and total time for each session will be 30-45 min. Group B 11 children of DS will be given Rebound Exercises for 15 min though this can be broken into multiple 3-5 min

Interventions

Cuevas Medak Exercises

Group A 11 children of DS will be given Cuevas Medak Exercises for 12 weeks and total time for each session will be 30-45 min. Group B 11 children of DS will be given Rebound Exercises for 15 min though this can be broken into multiple 3-5 min

Intervention Type: OTHER

Other Intervention Names

Rebound Exercises

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Children with Down syndrome
• Age 3-8 years Both genders
• Children who were able to understand the commands given to them.
• They were able to stand and walk independently.

Exclusion Criteria

• Patients with medical conditions that would severely limit their participation in the study
• Hearing loss
• Contracture
• Musculoskeletal disorders,
• Atlanto-axial instability
• Cardiac anomalies
• Thyroid abnormality
• Seizures
• Uncorrected vision problems
• Orthopedic surgery or spasticity-reduction intervention

• Minimum Eligible Age: 3 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 8 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

Riphah International University

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Responsibility Role: SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

Ayesha Afzal, MS-PT

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Riphah International University

Locations

Muhammad Nouman Ashraf

Lahore, Punjab Province, Pakistan

Site Status: RECRUITING

Countries

Pakistan

Central Contacts

IMRAN, PhD AMJAD, PHD

Role: CONTACT

imran.amjad@riphah.edu.pk

9233224390125

Muhammad Asif Javed, MS-PT

Role: CONTACT

a.javed@riphah.edu.pk

923224209422

Facility Contacts

Muhammad Asif Jvaed, MS-PT

Role: primary

a.javed@riphah.edu.pk

923224209422

References

Cabeza-Ruiz R, Alcantara-Cordero FJ, Ruiz-Gavilan I, Sanchez-Lopez AM. Feasibility and Reliability of a Physical Fitness Test Battery in Individuals with Down Syndrome. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2019 Jul 27;16(15):2685. doi: 10.3390/ijerph16152685.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 31357594 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

REC/RCR&AHS/AYESHAAFZAL

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id