Genetic Syndrome

One might wonder what the value of osteopathic manipulative treatment could be for a genetic syndrome. Osteopathic medicine is based on the principle that body structure and function are dynamically interrelated. When one improves the anatomic interrerlationships of structural elements of the body (bones, muscles, membranes, tissues, fluids), one sees improvement in the function of the body. This holds true whether the causes of the structural abnormalities are genetically based or not. It is clearly evident in looking at the face of a typical child with Down Syndrome that there is a lot about structure that is less than optimal. Let's look at what improvements in functions might be seen by improving the structure.

Down Syndrome, or Trisomy 21, occurs in about one in 800 births. It is almost always the result of a third copyt (trisomy) of some or all of the genetic material on chromosome 21. Mental retardation and low muscle tone are probably the two most common hallmarks of Down syndrome. There is also a much higher than normal incidence of heart and gastrointestinal tract defects which often require surgical correction.

Many external body features are characteristic of the syndrome. These include among others, an upward slant to the eyes; skin folds at the inner edges of the eyes; a flat, wide bridge of the nose; small, low-set ears; a shortened front to back dimension of the skull; a recessed midportion of the face and a protruding and often furrowed tongue. Some of these features contribute to the health complications seen in Trisomy 21, and some may plat a role in the common neurodevelopmental problems.

Changes in most features are possible through osteopathic manipulative treatment, and the improvements made structurally are likely to result in better function