Author(s)

Konstantinos Chandolias^1*, Eliza Konstantinidou², Efthymios Bikis³, Anna Hourlia⁴, Thomas Besios⁵, George Tsigaras⁶

¹Department of Physical Therapy, University of Thessaly, Lamia, Greece.
²Rehabilitation Center Animus, Larissa, Greece.
³Physiotherapy Practice, Larissa, Greece.
⁴Speech and Language Therapy Practice, Larissa, Greece.
⁵Department of Physical Therapy, University of Thessaly, Lamia, Greece.
⁶Hippokratio General Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece.

The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of a hydrotherapy program on FVC, FEV, PEF, RR and SaO₂ on children with Down syndrome over six months and to compare it with a conventional respiratory physiotherapy program. Eighteen children, with Down Syndrome, aged 6 - 11 years (9.53 ± 0.454), divided into two groups of nine, the intervention group (IG), that participated in the hydrotherapy program and the control group (CG) participated in the classical physiotherapy program. We calculated mean values of FVC, FEV, PEF, RR and SaO2 before and after six months intervention for both groups. There was a statistically significant improvement in all factors for both groups. However, were statistically more significant for the intervention group (IG). Based on a specific protocol of intervention in the water and at the same time with a group of children who participated in a similar program of classical respiratory physiotherapy, it was found to be statistically more important than the second group in improving respiratory function. We recommend the use of hydrotherapy as a complementary therapy that should be part of the weekly program of these children in addition to the existing treatments they attend.

Hydrotherapy, Physical Therapy, Respiratory, Halliwick, Down Syndrome

Chandolias, K. , Konstantinidou, E. , Bikis, E. , Hourlia, A. , Besios, T. and Tsigaras, G. (2021) The Effectiveness of 6 Months Hydrotherapy Program Based on Halliwick Concept on the Respiratory System of Down Syndrome Children. Journal of Biosciences and Medicines, 9, 20-26. doi: 10.4236/jbm.2021.93003.