AIM: To present a systematic review of studies into the effectiveness of early motor intervention in stimulating the motor development of children with Down syndrome aged 0 to 8 years. METHOD: The Medline, Cochrane, EBSCO, CINAHL, and PsycINFO databases were searched for relevant studies in the period 1987 to 2007. Studies were classified by their level of evidence, according to the criteria formulated by the American Academy for Cerebral Palsy and Developmental medicine (McPDM). Level of functioning was assessed according to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF). The effects of early intervention on motor development were evaluated in those studies providing level I and II evidence. RESULTS: Twelve intervention studies aimed at stimulating the motor development of children with Down syndrome were identified, of which seven provided level I or II evidence. Five of these studies showed a significant effect of early intervention on motor development, and gross motor function in particular. These five studies focused on stimulating motor skills at the CF level of activities. One of these five studies also focused on the level of body functions; none of them focused on the level of participation. CONCLUSION: The results of this review suggest that early intervention to stimulate motor functioning has a positive effect on the gross motor development of children with Down syndrome.

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