This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 Unported License, permitting all non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. ICPESK 2015 : 5 th International Congress of Physical Education, Sports and Kinetotherapy Postural Control in Down Syndrome Subjects Mădălina Georgescu a , Magdalena Cernea b *, Valeria Bălan c * Corresponding author: Magdalena Cernea, magda.cernea@otomed-center.ro a “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 8 Eroilor Sanitari Blvd., Bucharest, Romania b OTOMED Medical Center, 12 Armeneasca Street, Bucharest, Romania c National University of Physical Education and Sports, 140 Constantin Noica Street, Bucharest, Romania Abstract Objective - The Down’s syndrome children present important motor problems which affect static and dynamic balance. Equilibrium represents the capacity of keeping the body steady in standing position as well as the ability to perform usual dynamic tasks (walking, jumping and running) without falling. The objective of this paper is to present by comparison the postural control in Down syndrome subjects and non-disabled persons. Method - Five young Down syndrome subjects, aged 8 to 15 years old, and five normal age-matched subjects were included in the study. Static equilibrium was evaluated on a posturograph (Smart Balance from NEUROCOM) which has a force-plate. Equipment allows time and frequency domain analysis of the centre of pressure of the subjects. Subjects have to maintain upright position as steady as they can for 20 seconds, on the stabilised force-plate in two conditions – eyes closed and eyes open. Results - Analysis of the postural control revealed lower performance in maintaining the upright position from time domain point of view in Down syndrome group. Conclusion - Motor control problems are present in Down syndrome children since birth (hypotonia, low joint stability and joint hypermobility) and impede upon the development of motor control if early rehabilitation is not provided. This characteristic lasts for the whole life of the Down syndrome person. © 2016 Published by Future Academy www.FutureAcademy.org.uk Keywords: Down syndrome; postural control; posturography. 1. Introduction Down syndrome (DS) is a chromosomal anomaly caused by an additional chromosome – trisomy 21 and is characterized by important intellectual and adaptive behaviour limitations. Triplication of the 21 st chromosome described by Jacobs and Lejeune is found in all cells of the embryo or only in some of them (mosaicism for the latter condition). http://dx.doi.org/10.15405/epsbs.2016.06.35