Efficacy of Ayres Sensory Integration Therapy on Gait and Balance in Patients with Downs Syndrome – An Experimental Study

Introduction: Down syndrome (DS), caused by trisomy 21, is the leading chromosomal cause of intellectual disability and is often associated with hypotonia, joint hypermobility, and impaired gait and balance, increasing fall risk. While various therapies exist, limited evidence supports the use of Ayres Sensory Integration (ASI) for these issues in DS. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of ASI therapy on gait and balance in children with DS.  Aim: To study the effect Ayres sensory integration therapy on gait and balance in patients with Downs Syndrome.  Methods: 22 children aged 5–11 years with trisomy 21 and IQ ≥50 were included. Participants underwent 18 sessions (45 minutes each, over 6 weeks) of ASI therapy. Gait and balance were assessed pre- and post-intervention using the Paediatric Balance Scale (PBS) and Dynamic Gait Index (DGI). Data were analysed using paired t-tests.  Results: Post-intervention, significant improvements were seen in both PBS (mean increase from 33.68 to 38.09, p=0.000) and DGI scores (mean increase from 13.77 to 15.59, p=0.000). Normality tests confirmed suitability for parametric analysis.  Conclusion: ASI therapy significantly enhanced gait and balance in children with DS, as shown by increased PBS and DGI scores. The structured sensory integration approach targeting tactile, vestibular, proprioceptive, and cortical inputs proved effective in improving motor coordination and reducing fall risk. These results support ASI as a valuable clinical tool for improving functional mobility in this population.