ANTHROPOMETRY, MUSCULAR STRENGTH AND DERMATOGLYPHICS OF INDIVIDUALS WITH DOWN'S SYNDROME

Introduction: The study aimed at comparing both the dermatoglyphic and anthropometric features of the streng- th of palmar prehension people with of Downs Syndrome, users of the FUNAD in the city of Joao Pessoa - Paraiba - Brazil. Materials and Methods: Thirty individuals with age between 10 and 30 years-old were assessed (male, n = 18; female, n = 12). Thus, the body mass, the height, the body mass index, the strength of palmar prehension and the palmar fi ngerprint complex were identifi ed. The Shapiro-Wilk test verifi ed the distribution of normality, whereas the non parametric data were verifi ed with the Mann-Whitney test and the parametric data with the Student's "t" test. The signifi cance level (p < 0.05) was used. Results: It was verifi ed that among the three investigated variables there were no signifi cant differences neither in the anthropometry nor in the dermatoglyphics, being the strength statistically different with absolute strength (p=0.00) and relative total strength (p=0.01). There was prevalence of the ulnar loop type in 55% of men and 42% of women, with the Simian line being identifi ed in both hands. Discussion: It was thus concluded that the bearers of Down Syndrome reveal specifi c features in the anthropometrics, muscular strength and dermatoglyphics when observed in terms of sexes.