VIRTUAL REALITY APPLICATIONS IN CHILDREN WITH DOWN SYNDROME: A TRADITIONAL REVIEW

Year 2025, Volume: 6 Issue: 3, 164 - 171, 30.09.2025

Emine Nacar , Merve Karakurt , Selvin Balki

Abstract

Abstract
Down syndrome (DS) is a genetic disorder caused by trisomy of the 21st chromosome. Children with DS may have balance and coordination disorders, abnormal movement patterns, decreased muscle tone and delays in motor development compared to typically developing peers. Various rehabilitation methods such as sensory integration, neurodevelopmental therapy and vestibular stimulation are used to treat these motor skill problems. However, one of the most important difficulties in the rehabilitation process is the lack of motivation, which negatively affects the process. In recent years, Virtual Reality (VR) based therapies have emerged as an innovative approach for rehabilitative interventions in children diagnosed with DS. This technology offers a complementary feature to traditional methods, while at the same time supporting long-term engagement by making treatment processes more enjoyable. Clinical studies show that VR has the potential to improve muscle power, joint mobility, motor coordination, attention capacity, and cognitive problem-solving abilities decision-making skills, balance and posture. However, although the use of VR technology has been proposed during the therapeutic management of children with DS, studies have generally focused on other neurological disorders such as autism spectrum disorder, attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder, cerebral palsy. Research on the effects of VR in the rehabilitation of children with DS has been insufficiently addressed in current literature. In this review study, the aims of using VR therapies in children with DS were discussed and their effects on gross motor functions such as balance, coordination, speed, agility as well as fine motor functions based on upper extremity skills were evaluated.

Keywords

Down syndrome , virtual reality , augmented reality , motor skills

DOWN SENDROMLU ÇOCUKLARDA SANAL GERÇEKLİK UYGULAMALARI: GELENEKSEL DERLEME

Abstract

Öz
Down Sendromu (DS), 21. kromozomun trizomisinden kaynaklanan genetik bir bozukluktur. DS’li çocuklarda, tipik olarak gelişen akranlarına kıyasla denge ve koordinasyon bozuklukları, anormal hareket paternleri, azalmış kas tonusu ve motor gelişimde gecikmeler görülebilir. Bu motor beceri problemlerini tedavi etmek için duyu bütünleme, nörogelişimsel terapi ve vestibüler stimülasyon gibi çeşitli rehabilitasyon yöntemleri kullanılmaktadır. Ancak rehabilitasyon sürecindeki en önemli zorluklardan biri, süreci olumsuz etkileyen motivasyon eksikliğidir. Son yıllarda, Sanal Gerçeklik (VR) tabanlı terapiler, DS’li çocukların rehabilitasyonunda yenilikçi bir yaklaşım olarak öne çıkmaktadır. Bu teknoloji, geleneksel yöntemlere tamamlayıcı bir özellik sunarken, aynı zamanda tedavi süreçlerini daha eğlenceli hale getirerek uzun vadeli katılımı desteklemektedir. Klinik çalışmalar, VR'nin kas gücünü, hareket aralığını, koordinasyonu, dikkat süresini, problem çözme ve karar verme becerilerini, dengeyi ve duruşu iyileştirme potansiyeline sahip olduğunu göstermektedir. Bununla birlikte, VR teknolojisinin DS’li çocukların rehabilitasyonunda kullanımı önerilse de, çalışmalar genellikle otizm spektrum bozukluğu, dikkat eksikliği ve hiperaktivite bozukluğu, serebral palsi gibi diğer nörolojik bozukluklara odaklanmıştır. Literatürde DS’li çocukların rehabilitasyonunda VR’nin etkileri üzerine yapılan araştırmalar sınırlıdır. Bu derleme çalışmasında, VR terapilerinin DS’li çocuklarda kullanım amaçları ele alınmış ve denge, koordinasyon, hız, çeviklik gibi kaba motor fonksiyonların yanı sıra üst ekstremite becerileri temelinde ince motor fonksiyonlar üzerindeki etkileri değerlendirilmiştir.

Keywords

Down sendromu , sanal gerçeklik , artırılmış gerçeklik , motor beceri

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