T/F: Children with Down syndrome have a collagen deficit.

• A. Unknown
• B. True
• C. False
• D. Not established

Answer: (B)

The important idea is that connective tissue in Down syndrome often shows abnormalities that reduce its tensile strength, contributing to ligamentous laxity and hypotonia. There is evidence of altered collagen metabolism and reduced collagen content in some tissues, which helps explain why joints can be more lax and easily hyperextend. This connective tissue difference underlies many common rehab observations in these children, such as hypermobile joints, flat feet, and higher risk of spinal instabilities. So describing this as a collagen deficit reflects the practical impact: tissues don’t have the same collagen content or quality, leading to decreased stiffness and greater joint laxity. It’s not necessarily a universal or uniform deficit across all tissues, but it aligns with the observed connective tissue changes in Down syndrome.