Discovering the Joy of Movement

JOPERD • Volume 77 No. 6 • August 2006 D own syndrome (DS) is the most frequently occurring chromosomal abnormality. It results from the presence of an extra partial or complete 21st chromosome. This increase in genetic material disrupts all aspects of an individual’s physical, mental, and social development. While the specifi c sensory and perceptual-motor impairments associated with DS have been well reported, less is known about how best to structure the environment and tailor programs that can maximize the potential of individuals with DS and increase their participation in physical activity. For children with DS, it is widely recognized that the development of movement patterns and the acquisition of motor skill profi ciency can be a slow and discouraging process. Although some children can attain a competence level that is somewhat comparable to their peers, motor milestones are generally delayed, and, in certain aspects of motor skill performance, children and adults with DS show a “lack of fi nesse” often described as “clumsy” (Henderson, 1986; Jobling 1999a, b; Latash, 2000). For children with DS, discovering the joy of movement can be a frustrating and diffi cult task. From a perceptual-motor perspective, the motor features of this observed “clumsiness” are “not straightforward...and sometimes puzzling” (Latash, 2000 p. 209). This awkward form of movement can add to feelings of frustration as movement and movement sequences in action become ineffi cient and thus ineffective as related to the task.