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For people with Down syndrome, family members, caregivers and professionals.

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Tips for Cutting Fingernails and Toenails

Author: Katie Frank, PhD, OTR/L - Occupational Therapist, Adult Down Syndrome Center

Cutting your nails is a personal hygiene task that must be completed regularly to maintain healthy and strong nails. In the list below, I have shared general tips to make trimming your nails easier an

Overpronation

Author: Brian Chicoine, MD - Medical Director, Adult Down Syndrome Center

What is overpronation of the ankle? In short, when we walk, typically the outside of our heel strikes the ground first and then the rest of our foot rolls to come in contact with the ground. Then our

Hypoglycemia (Low Blood Sugar)

Author: Brian Chicoine, MD - Medical Director, Adult Down Syndrome Center

What is hypoglycemia? Hypoglycemia is the medical term for low blood sugar or low glucose. Blood sugar or glucose levels can be measured with a blood test. Healthcare providers make the diagnosis of h

Development of Atlantoaxial Instability in an Older Person with Down Syndrome

Author: Brian Chicoine, MD - Medical Director, Adult Down Syndrome Center

The parent of a 47-year-old man with Down syndrome submitted the following question: Can a person with Down syndrome develop atlantoaxial instability in adulthood? My son is 47. When he was younger, X

Trampolines

Author: Brian Chicoine, MD - Medical Director, Adult Down Syndrome Center

We periodically get asked about the use of trampolines by people with Down syndrome. Trampolines cause many injuries to both children and adults. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons

Toilet Hygiene

Author: Katie Frank, PhD, OTR/L - Occupational Therapist, Adult Down Syndrome Center

Thorough toilet hygiene is difficult for many individuals with Down syndrome. However, there are several options to increase independence and success with toilet hygiene. Use pre-moistened wipes . Be

Tips for Managing Medications

Author: Monica Prindiville, OTS and Katie Frank, PhD, OTR/L - Occupational Therapy Student and Occupational Therapist

Whether on one medication or many, people with and without Down Syndrome have difficulty taking medication as prescribed. The following tips can help simplify medication management and prevent missed

Bunions in People with Down Syndrome

Author: Brian Chicoine, MD - Medical Director, Adult Down Syndrome Center

A bunion (also known as hallux valgus) is a bony projection or bump that forms at the base of the big toe. If the joint at the base of the big toe is subjected to great pressure while walking, the big

Vitamin B12 Deficiency

Author: Brian Chicoine, MD - Adult Down Syndrome Center

Vitamin B12 deficiency is an issue that we often check for in individuals who receive medical care at the Adult Down Syndrome Center. We usually get enough vitamin B12 from the foods we eat. Vitamin B

Adaptive Clothing

Author: Katie Frank, PhD, OTR/L - Occupational Therapist, Adult Down Syndrome Center

Dressing can be difficult for some individuals with Down syndrome, in part because bilateral coordination and dexterity skills can be challenging for many individuals with Down syndrome. I ha

Bathing and Showering Tips

Author: Natalie Rivera, OTS and Katie Frank, PhD, OTR/L - Occupational therapy student and occupational therapist

Bathing and showering may be difficult for some individuals with Down syndrome for many reasons. Below are a variety of adaptive strategies and equipment to promote safety and independence with this s

Tips for Washing and Rinsing Hair in the Shower

Author: Adult Down Syndrome Center

Some families have shared with us that washing and rinsing hair can be a challenging task for their loved ones with Down syndrome. We have compiled a list of suggestions from families for mak

Flat Feet in People with Down Syndrome

Author: Lorri Riley, DPM - j1 insoles

The website at the link below discusses flat feet and Down syndrome. The website also contains information about j1 insoles, a line of medical grade insoles for adults and children that are less expen

New Way to Learn How to Tie Shoes

Author: Katie Frank, PhD, OTR/L

This handout describes an alternative method for tying shoes that may help individuals with Down syndrome be more independent with this task.

Ligamentous Laxity

Author: Peter Waller, DO - Family Medicine Resident, Advocate Lutheran General Hospital

Ligaments are bands of fibrous connective tissue in our body that connect one bone to another bone and provide support to our joints. In people with Down syndrome, these ligaments tend to be loose lea

Atlantoaxial Instability Screening

Author: Brian Chicoine, MD - Medical Director, Adult Down Syndrome Center

Atlantoaxial instability (AAI) is subluxation or slippage of the first neck vertebrae in relation to the second. It is more common in people with Down syndrome (DS) and there are unique screening cons

Normal Abnormal Lab Values

Author: Hannah Graham, MD - Advocate Lutheran General Hospital

When running routine blood tests, sometimes abnormal values are flagged by the lab or computer system. Some of these values, while outside of the normal range, are still typical and/or acceptable for

Recurrent Pneumonia

Author: Brian Chicoine, MD - Medical Director, Adult Down Syndrome Center

Definition of Pneumonia  (by the Mayo Clinic ) Pneumonia is an infection that inflames the air sacs in one or both lungs. The air sacs may fill with fluid or pus, causing cough with phlegm or

Knee Pain from Patellofemoral Syndrome

Author: Julia Howell, MD - Family Medicine Resident, Advocate Lutheran General Hospital

People with Down syndrome can often have laxity, or looseness, of the ligaments that support joints. The knee is no exception. The patella, or knee cap, attaches to the muscles of the upper and lower

Low White Blood Cell Count

Author: Brian Chicoine, MD - Medical Director, Adult Down Syndrome Center

What is the significance of a low white blood cell count (neutropenia)? We commonly find that our adult patients with Down syndrome have a mildly reduced white blood cell count. What does it mean? Wha

Elevated Globulin

Author: Brian Chicoine, MD - Medical Director, Adult Down Syndrome Center

Globulins are antibodies (found and measured in the blood) that are elevated in inflammatory conditions, infections, and some cancers. We often find the globulin level to be elevated in people with Do

MCH and MCV

Author: Brian Chicoine, MD - Medical Director, Adult Down Syndrome Center

We received a question about MCH and MCV. The question concerned an individual with Down syndrome who had a high MCH and MCV. MCH is mean corpuscular hemoglobin (the average amount of hemoglobin in th

Spondylolisthesis and Cervical Subluxation

Author: Brian Chicoine, MD - Medical Director, Adult Down Syndrome Center

We received a question regarding spondylolisthesis. Spondylolisthesis is a slippage of one vertebrae over another. Most commonly this refers to slippage in the lumbar (lower) part of the back. Slippag

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Please note: The information on this site is for educational purposes only and is not intended to serve as a substitute for a medical, psychiatric, mental health, or behavioral evaluation, diagnosis, or treatment plan by a qualified professional. We recommend you review the educational material with your health providers regarding the specifics of your health care needs.

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