Dynamics of the indicators of adaptive abilities in children with Down syndrome during their preparation for adaptive sports

Aim. The article deals with the assessment of changes in the indicators of adaptive abilities in children with Down syndrome during their preparation for adaptive sports. Materials and methods. 40 children with Down syndrome aged 8 ± 3.1 participated in the study (26 boys and 14 girls). We performed the following tests: the analysis of complaints and medical records, pulse oximetry, spirometry, peak flowmetry, obstructive pulmonary disease test, Stange’s test, heart rate and blood pressure measurement, Ruffier test, Romberg’s test, finger-nose test, orthostatic test. Results. The initial screening of adaptive abilities allowed us to establish dysadaptation shifts in the performance of the cardiovascular and vegetative systems. Dynamic screening revealed the statistically significant improvement of the data obtained in the second screening, which describe adaptation to physical load. We also registered the statistically significant improvement of adaptation processes and increase of functional abilities during trainings. We established the following predictors of dysadaptation changes in children with Down syndrome: the decreased level of oxygen saturation, unsatisfactory results of the finger-nose test, satisfactory results of Romberg’s test (1st level of complexity), inadequate reaction to orthostatic test, white dermographism. Conclusions. We proposed the complex assessment of adaptive abilities in children with Down syndrome both during one training (immediate effect) and after the experimental period (5 months, delayed effect). We registered that physical load influences positively the adaptation level. We described the predictors of dysadaptation changes.