The study, available online in advance of publication in Physical Therapy, suggests high intensity training may help Down syndrome infants begin walking five months sooner than they typically do, and take independent steps even sooner.

Typical infants begin walking at 12 months, but babies with Down syndrome often do not learn to walk independently until 24 to 28 months -- delaying motor skills, perception, spatial cognition and social skills.

"The key is if we can get them to walk earlier and better then they can explore their environment earlier and when you start to explore, you learn about the world around you," the study's principal investigator, Dale Ulrich, of the University of Michigan, said in a statement. "Walking is a critical factor in development in every other domain."

The study randomly assigned treadmill training or high-intensity treadmill training to 30 infants. The training was done at home by a parent who sat on a bench straddling the treadmill holding the baby as the child took steps on the treadmill for a few minutes each day.