Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42704094›Full record

Observational studyThe Journal of international medical research2026

Play to move: A mixed-methods prospective observational study of exergaming versus traditional exercise interventions in children with Down syndrome.

Elise Baron, Nina Ulaganathan, Sri Kurniawan

Abstract readObservational StudyComparative Study
In one paragraph

Observational study in The Journal of international medical research, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Elise BaronAugment Therapy, USA.ORCID 0000-0002-6095-1022
Nina UlaganathanComputational Media Department, University of California Santa Cruz, USA.
Sri KurniawanComputational Media Department, University of California Santa Cruz, USA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

ObjectiveChildren with Down syndrome often face challenges associated with physical activity engagement and motor skill development. This study examined the effectiveness of an augmented reality exergaming application compared with that of traditional paper-based exercise recommendations for promoting physical activity in children with Down syndrome.MethodsUsing a mixed-methods design, this prospective, observational study investigated the experiences of participants in a 6-week exercise intervention by comparing the effectiveness of an exergaming application (n = 3) with the provision of a paper handout with recommended exercises (n = 2). Five children with Down syndrome participated in the study, with physical assessments conducted pre- and post-intervention via telehealth, weekly interviews, and activity tracking.ResultsThematic analysis revealed that the exergaming application provided initial novelty and motivation that decreased over time; however, session duration increased. Paper handouts served as reminders but not motivators. Participants preferred activities involving upper-body movements over more challenging, whole-body movements, and familiar, simplified movements over novel complex tasks. All application group participants demonstrated improvement in the 2-min step test.ConclusionExergaming may help improve physical fitness in children with Down syndrome; however, it requires specific design considerations to sustain long-term engagement and activity initiation.

Indexed as

Down SyndromeExerciseExercise TherapyExergamingChildFemaleHumansMaleMotivationPhysical FitnessProspective StudiesDown syndromeexergaminggamificationmotivationphysical activity

Identifiers

PMID42704094
PMCPMC13554530

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.