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Acute assisted cycle therapy enhances balance performance in adults with Down syndrome: a preliminary study
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Acute assisted cycle therapy enhances balance performance in adults with Down syndrome: a preliminary study

Shannon Ringenbach, Chih Chia J.J. Chen, Nathaniel Arnold, Danielle Keim and Daniel Peterson
International journal of developmental disabilities
05/11/2026
DOI: 10.1080/20473869.2026.2662355

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Abstract

Objectives This study examined the immediate effects of Assisted Cycle Therapy (ACT) on static and dynamic balance in adults with Down syndrome (DS). Methods Ten adults with DS (7 males, 3 females; mean age = 26.8 years) completed one acute ACT session and one control session in a randomized order. Balance was assessed before and after each session using the Clinical Test of Sensory Interaction on Balance under four conditions: eyes open and closed on firm and foam surfaces. Path length, anterior–posterior (AP) excursion, and medial–lateral (ML) excursion were recorded. Functional mobility was evaluated using the Timed Up and Go test. Results The most notable improvement was observed in AP excursion during the eyes-open foam condition, which improved significantly following ACT, suggesting enhanced postural control under increased sensory challenge. No significant changes were observed in ML excursion or functional mobility. Conclusions Acute ACT may lead to condition-specific improvements in balance in adults with DS. However, these findings should be interpreted with caution, as effects were limited and not observed across all balance measures. ACT may have potential as a supplementary approach in balance-focused intervention programs, warranting further investigation with larger samples and longer-term interventions.
 assisted cycle therapy Intellectual disability postural control timed up and go

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