2 Pager: Little People

Question 1

Little people is the preferred term for individuals diagnosed with dwarfism, an umbrella term encompassing over ___ conditions causing short stature, such as achondroplasia, diastrophic dysplasia, and primordial dwarfism

Answer 1

250

Question 2

The height restriction for little people is?

Answer 2

4’10’’

Question 3

______ dwarfism occurs due to cartilage failing to form into bone, resulting in shorter limbs and an average-sized trunk

Answer 3

Disproportionate

Question 4

___ dwarfism is caused by dysfunctions in the pituitary gland, which controls the human growth hormone, causing an abnormally small but proportionate body

Answer 4

Proportionate

Question 5

Which type of dwarfism is more common?

Answer 5

Disproportionate

Question 6

The prevalence
depends on the specific subtype; ______, the most common form of disproportionate dwarfism, has an
incidence rate of once every ______ births.

Answer 6

achondroplasia

20,000

Question 7

Several spinal deformities are prevalent among little people, such as lumbar lordosis, scoliosis, spinal stenosis, and atlantoaxial instability. If atlanto-axial instability is present, what contraindications are present for PA?

Answer 7

contraindications include diving, heading

soccer balls, contact sports, jumping, and gymnastics

Question 8

What are some other frequent issues?

Answer 8

• eye complications
• difficulties breathing
• limites ROM
• osteogenesis
• waddling gait as a result of short femoral heads and bow legs
• limited elbow extension

Question 9

What are some activity limitations?

Answer 9

• axial instability and those previously mentioned ones

- may need assistive device like wheelchair or crutches = limiting

Question 10

Describe 3 barriers to participation in physical activities that arise from interactions between
the health conditions and contextual factors?

Answer 10

1. Access to suitably sized equipment
2. Parameters of sport/PA (eg. size of field)
3. Limitations to sport they are medically able to participate in

Question 11

Considerations for PA and programming for little people.

Answer 11

1. Equipment or sport adaptations that can be made (eg. use smaller ball, in weightlifting use smaller bar etc.)
2. Adapting playing field size
3. Individual physiological difference should be considered

Question 12

Specific recreational (including sport) organizations/opportunities available locally, in BC, and
beyond?

Answer 12

• Little People of B.C. provides medical, emotional, and social support