Desempenho motor no finger tapping test em adultos com Síndrome de Down

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Down Syndrome (DS) is a genetic alteration that impacts neurodevelopment, often associated with delays in motor and cognitive development. Individuals with DS demonstrate wide interindividual variability in motor skills, in addition to impaired motor performance. In addition, people with DS have distinct neurocognitive and neurobehavioral profiles, which manifest themselves at different stages of development. OBJECTIVE: The present study aims to analyze motor performance in the Finger Tapping Test in adults with DS. METHODS: The sample consisted of a group of participants with Down syndrome and a group without Down syndrome. Participants were submitted to motor performance evaluations in the Finger Tapping Test. The Finger Tapping test was performed using the Momentum Touch® app and consisted of tapping the screen as many times as possible in 30 seconds. RESULTS: Lower numbers were identified in the number of taps (frequency) and total displacement (pixels) on the dominant side [number of taps = (male SD = 120.3 ± 40.4; female SD = 134 ± 14.6); total displacement = (male SD = 157,175.5 ± 52,648.2; female SD = 227,567.1 ± 21,602.7)] and non-dominant [number of touches = (male SD = 126.8 ± 28.8; female SD 120.9 ± 23.9); total displacement = (male SD = 236,379.4 ± 32,788.6; female SD = 210,257.2 ± 19,315.7 pixels)] of people with SD, suggesting lower performance of people with SD in the frequency of touches on the FTT. The mean interval (seconds) and ellipse area (pixels) of the dominant side [mean interval = (SD male = 0.28 ± 0.15; SD female = 0.22 ± 0.02); ellipse area = (SD male = 71,038.3 ± 197,039.3; female SD = 25,284.9 ± 29,363.5) and non-dominant side [mean interval = (male SD = 0.24 ± 0.05; female SD = 0.25 ± 0.08); ellipse area = (male SD = 45,041 ± 42,896 pixels; female SD = 28,057.2 ± 15,478 pixels)] of people with SD were larger when compared to people without SD on the dominant sides [mean range = (male without SD = 0.15 ± 0.02; female without SD = 0.16 ± 0.01); ellipse area = (male without SD = 8,263.7 ± 5,369.5; female without SD = 4,434 ± 2,834.8)] and non-dominant [mean interval = (male without SD = 0.16 ± 0.02; female without SD = 0.18 ± 0.01); ellipse area = (male SD = 14,366.1 ± 7,407.49; female SD = 8,807.8 ± 7,489.4)], indicating slowness and lower accuracy in performing the touches. CONCLUSION: It was observed that the group with Down syndrome showed significant differences in motor performance on the Finger Tapping Test when compared to their typical peers.