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Paediatrics research

Everything we have read on paediatrics. Each paper is summarised from the full article rather than its abstract, so the limitations are in there too, and the funding wherever the paper declares it.

1,906 PAPERS · PAGE 10 OF 39 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTOTSLPCase-Control2020Subtle Motor Signs and Executive Functioning in Chronic Paediatric Traumatic Brain Injury: Brief Report.Developmental neurorehabilitationChildren with chronic traumatic brain injury showed subtle motor deficits that correlated with executive function problems. A bedside motor exam may help flag which children need further cognitive testing.
• PTOTSLPCohort2020Health care service for families with children at early risk of developmental delay: an All Our Families cohort study.Developmental medicine and child neurologyChildren flagged as at risk for developmental delay did not use more health services than peers unless they received a formal diagnosis. The extra allied health costs were driven almost entirely by the diagnosed group, suggesting screening alone does not trigger service use.
• PTOther2019Hand Motor Actions of Children With Cerebral Palsy Are Associated With Abnormal Sensorimotor Cortical Oscillations.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairChildren with cerebral palsy showed weaker brain signals for movement execution and feedback compared to typically developing peers, correlating with slower reaction times. However, brain signals for movement planning were normal. This suggests hand motor delays stem from execution and feedback issues rather than planning deficits.
• PTOTSLPCohort2020Impact of therapeutic hypothermia on infantile spasms: an observational cohort study.Developmental medicine and child neurologyTherapeutic hypothermia did not significantly reduce infantile spasms in severe HIE, though fewer treated infants developed them. HIE severity strongly predicted spasm risk. Outcomes remained poor with high mortality and developmental delay.
• PTCohort2020High-Risk Lower-Extremity Biomechanics Evaluated in Simulated Soccer-Specific Virtual Environments.Journal of sport rehabilitationIn 22 of 38 female adolescent soccer athletes, landing after a virtual soccer header showed less hip and ankle flexion than a lab jump. The paper did not test injury or treatment.
• PTPilot2019Injury Risk Factors Integrated Into Self-Guided Real-Time Biofeedback Improves High-Risk Biomechanics.Journal of sport rehabilitationPlanned tests did not show that real-time biofeedback improved squatting performance more than sham during acquisition or retention. When training blocks were averaged, real-time feedback scores were higher than sham scores, but no lasting change was found.
• PTOTSLPCohort2020Long-term cognitive outcomes in tuberous sclerosis complex.Developmental medicine and child neurologySeizures in the first two years, especially non-spasm types, predict lower IQ in children with tuberous sclerosis complex eight years later. Early seizure control appears critical for long-term intellectual outcomes, independent of socio-economic factors.
• PTOTPilot2020Accelerating Motor Skill Acquisition for Bicycle Riding in Children with ASD: A Pilot Study.Journal of autism and developmental disordersNine of 15 children and adolescents with ASD rode independently after a camp package of graduated support cylinders, spotters, prompts, physical assistance, pairing, breaks, and practice progression; all improved, but no single part can be separated.
• PTOther2019The cross-sectional relationships between age, standing static balance, and standing dynamic balance reactions in typically developing children.Gait & postureOlder children could keep their feet in place during bigger treadmill disturbances, but quiet standing sway did not change with age. Dynamic balance reactions looked age related, while quiet standing sway did not.
• PTOTRCT2019EMG-based vibro-tactile biofeedback training: effective learning accelerator for children and adolescents with dystonia? A pilot crossover trial.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationChildren with secondary dystonia showed improved arm movement coordination and muscle activation patterns when wearing a vibration biofeedback device during training. Children with primary dystonia improved with practice alone, and the device did not help them.
• PTOTSLPCohort2020Early Intervention Service Intensity and Change in Children's Functional Capabilities.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationChildren receiving 2 or more hours of early intervention services per month showed greater gains in social-emotional and cognitive capabilities than those receiving less than 2 hours. Older children at entry also demonstrated larger functional improvements.
• PTOTSLPCohort2020Development curves of communication and social interaction in individuals with cerebral palsy.Developmental medicine and child neurologyChildren and adults with cerebral palsy without intellectual disability reached communication and social skill levels comparable to typical development. Written communication lagged in childhood. With intellectual disability, final levels were lower and varied widely, especially at GMFCS level V.
• PTCohort2020Predictors of Walking Activity in Children and Adolescents With Myelomeningocele.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationLess daily walking was related to using assistive devices and watching more TV in ambulatory children and adolescents with myelomeningocele. Strength and range of motion were also related, but not in the final model.
• PTOther2019The effects of pediatric obesity on patellofemoral joint contact force during walking.Gait & postureObese children had higher kneecap joint load than healthy-weight children at the second peak and averaged across walking, but first peak and body-weight normalized loads were not higher.
• PTOTSLPCase Report2019A Physical Therapy Intervention to Advance Cognitive and Motor Skills: A Single Subject Study of a Young Child With Cerebral Palsy.Pediatric physical therapy : the official publication of the Section on Pediatrics of the American Physical Therapy AssociationA single child with severe cerebral palsy showed faster gains in motor and problem-solving skills during a parent-led physical therapy intervention that combined sitting and reaching with cognitive play. The mother changed how she played, but the study cannot prove the therapy caused the improvement.
• PTOTSLPCohort2020Impact of Secondary ADHD on Long-Term Outcomes After Early Childhood Traumatic Brain Injury.The Journal of head trauma rehabilitationChildren who developed new attention problems years after a brain injury showed significantly worse behavior control and daily functioning in early adolescence. This risk was much higher than in children with orthopedic injuries who developed similar attention issues.
• PTPilot2019Development and exploration of a Japanese version of the cerebral palsy quality of life for children questionnaire for primary caregivers: a pilot study.Journal of physical therapy scienceMothers' emotional well-being and feelings about functioning were lower as their child's GMFCS level increased. The other domains did not differ by GMFCS level in a Japanese caregiver questionnaire completed by 50 mothers.
• PTCohort2020Genetic variation in dopamine neurotransmission and motor development of infants born extremely-low-birthweight.Developmental medicine and child neurologyA higher dopamine-related genetic score was associated with lower motor development scores in infants born extremely low birthweight, but not with cognitive scores or cerebral palsy. Each additional variant was associated with a small decrease in motor score.
• PTCase Report2019Reduction of thoraco-lumbar junctional kyphosis, posterior sagittal balance, and increase of lumbar lordosis and sacral inclination by Chiropractic BioPhysics® methods in an adolescent with back pain: a case report.Journal of physical therapy scienceA 16-year-old with chronic back pain received 24 chiropractic treatments over 8 weeks. Her pain dropped from 7/10 to 1/10, and spine X-rays showed corrected alignment. Because she received multiple therapies at once, the contribution of any single component cannot be separated.
• PTCase Series2020Standardized Infant NeuroDevelopmental Assessment developmental and socio-emotional scales: reliability and predictive value in an at-risk population.Developmental medicine and child neurologyIn infants referred to a neurodevelopmental clinic, SINDA developmental scores of 7 or less out of 15 predicted intellectual disability at 24 months or older. Atypical emotionality or self-regulation were associated with later behavioural or emotional disorder, but normal scores did not rule it out.
• PTOTRCT2020Relationship between changes in motor capacity and objectively measured motor performance in ambulatory children with spastic cerebral palsy.Child: care, health and developmentAfter 12 weeks of physiotherapy plus optional botulinum toxin, serial casting or ankle foot orthoses, changes in motor capacity did not go together with objectively measured motor performance. At 24 weeks, strength and walking speed gains went with less sedentary time.
• PTOTCohort2020Community-based participation of children with and without disabilities.Developmental medicine and child neurologyChildren with disabilities were less likely to get together with friends, join physical activities, or attend religious gatherings. They also took part in several of these activities less often, even after accounting for sex, income, and parental education.
• PTOTSLPCohort2019Psychiatric Symptoms: Prevalence, Co-occurrence, and Functioning Among Extremely Low Gestational Age Newborns at Age 10 Years.Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBPAbout 30% of 10-year-olds born extremely preterm screened positive for at least one psychiatric disorder. Co-occurrence was frequent, especially between internalizing and externalizing symptoms. Higher numbers of co-occurring disorders were linked to worse school, social, and physical functioning.
• PTOTOther2019The "subluxation" issue: an analysis of chiropractic clinic websites.Archives of physiotherapyNearly half of Alberta chiropractic clinic websites use the word "subluxation," and one-third present it as a theory causing nerve interference and organ dysfunction. Eight percent specifically market this concept for children, linking it to conditions like colic, ADHD, and asthma.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2020Family-centred care in early intervention: Examining caregiver perceptions of family-centred care and early intervention service use intensity.Child: care, health and developmentParents rated respectful care and partnership highly but scored general information sharing lowest. Higher service intensity was linked to better perceptions of respectful care and partnership, but not to information exchange. Parents and providers did not agree on most care quality aspects.
• PTOTCohort2020Using accelerometry for measurement of motor behavior in children: Relationship of real-world movement to standardized evaluation.Research in developmental disabilitiesWrist accelerometers can objectively measure how much children with hemiparesis use their affected arm in daily life. The movement data correlated moderately with clinical test scores, suggesting this affordable tool can help screen for asymmetry and guide therapy intensity.
• PTQualitative2020Caregivers' experiences with the new family-centred paediatric physiotherapy programme COPCA: A qualitative study.Child: care, health and developmentMothers of infants with motor delay described six months of home COPCA physiotherapy as varied, helpful and satisfying. They valued coaching that fit daily care and said they learned to support their infant between sessions.
• PTOTSLPPilot2020GEARing smart environments for pediatric motor rehabilitation.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationThree young children completed eight sessions in a new playground environment with body-weight support and robots. All children looked at and moved toward the robots, and all completed climbing tasks while following them. This shows the setup works for testing, not that it improves motor skills.
• PTOTCase-Control2020Assessment of bilateral motor skills and visuospatial attention in children with perinatal stroke using a robotic object hitting task.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationChildren with perinatal stroke hit fewer balls than peers with both hands, especially after arterial ischemic stroke. The unaffected hand also showed fewer hits, and attention test scores related to performance.
• PTOTSLPCohort2019Deviation from normative brain development is associated with symptom severity in autism spectrum disorder.Molecular autismChildren and young adults with autism whose brain scans predicted an older age than their actual age had milder symptoms. Those with a younger predicted brain age had more severe symptoms. This links brain development speed to symptom severity, not IQ.
• PTOTSLPCase-Control2020Learning of skilled movements via imitation in ASD.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchChildren with autism imitated novel gestures less accurately than peers. Their learning curves were flatter early on, catching up by the fourth repetition. This specific pattern of slow initial learning predicted worse motor planning skills and higher autism symptom severity.
• PTOTCohort2020Neurosensory Screening and Symptom Provocation in Pediatric Mild Traumatic Brain Injury.The Journal of head trauma rehabilitationChildren about one week after mild head injury had higher symptom ratings and more symptom increase during neurosensory tests than healthy peers. But test scores did not reliably identify individual injured children; they improved prediction of persistent symptoms at four months.
• PTOTSLPOther2020Disparities in Documented Diagnoses of Autism Spectrum Disorder Based on Demographic, Individual, and Service Factors.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism Research25.2% of children whose records showed enough ASD symptoms to meet surveillance criteria had no documented ASD diagnosis. They were more likely to be non-Hispanic Black, Hispanic, or other non-Hispanic race, evaluated after age 3, have no intellectual disability, or need fewer supports.
• PTOther2019Relationships between lower extremity strength and the multi-directional reach test in children aged 7 to 12 years.Hong Kong physiotherapy journal : official publication of the Hong Kong Physiotherapy Association Limited = Wu li chih liaoIn children aged 7 to 12, hip and knee flexor strength was related to reach distance in all directions, but overall links were weak. Reach scores should not be read as a simple measure of leg strength.
• PTOTSLPCohort2020Female adolescents demonstrate greater oculomotor and vestibular dysfunction than male adolescents following concussion.Physical therapy in sport : official journal of the Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Sports MedicineFemale adolescents tested within three weeks of a sports concussion were more likely to fail near point of convergence and tandem gait tests than males. No sex differences were found on static balance or gaze stability. These specific deficits may guide early vestibular rehab referral.
• PTOTSLPCohort2020Cranial Ultrasound and Minor Motor Abnormalities at 2 Years in Extremely Low Gestational Age Infants.Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBPMinor motor issues like stiff posture or poor hand control were more common in infants with severe ultrasound findings, but not low-grade ones. Children with any minor motor abnormality used more therapy and feeding supports than peers with normal exams.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2019Neuropsychiatric decompensation in adolescents and adults with Phelan-McDermid syndrome: a systematic review of the literature.Molecular autismAdolescents and adults with Phelan-McDermid syndrome show a high risk of sudden neuropsychiatric decompensation, including bipolar disorder and catatonia. Peak onset is between 16 and 20 years. Antipsychotics were often ineffective or poorly tolerated, while lithium and divalproex sodium showed more consistent benefit.
• PTOther2020Construct Validity of the Observable Movement Quality Scale in Pediatrics: Hypothesis Testing of a Formative Measurement Model.Physical therapyThe OMQ Scale accurately reflects movement quality in children with motor disabilities. Scores dropped as disability severity increased and correlated with standard motor test results. Use it alongside quantitative tests, as children with good movement quality can still have severe functional limitations.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2020Instrumented assessment of motor function in dyskinetic cerebral palsy: a systematic review.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationA systematic review of 49 studies found that while sensors and motion capture can measure movement in dyskinetic cerebral palsy, most methods require the child to understand instructions and move voluntarily. This excludes the 70-80% who are non-ambulatory and severely impaired, leaving no validated tools for them.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2020Parent preferences for neurodevelopmental screening in the neonatal intensive care unit.Developmental medicine and child neurologyMost NICU parents wanted neurodevelopmental screening to plan for the future, but they insisted on autonomy to refuse. They asked for clear explanations of test accuracy and emotional support before results. Parents prioritized cognitive and independence outcomes over motor skills.
• PTRCT2020Characteristics of dynamic standing balance with and without an insole in patients with spastic diplegia cerebral palsy.Journal of physical therapy scienceIn 11 patients with spastic diplegia cerebral palsy, custom insoles did not change the index of postural stability compared with barefoot. Side-to-side movement increased, but that was one balance measure.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2020Estimated prevalence of disability and developmental delay among preschool children in rural Malawi: Findings from "Tikule Limodzi," a cross-sectional survey.Child: care, health and development10.7% of preschool children in rural Malawi had disability, and 3.5% had severe disability. 11.7% had language or social delay. Older children were seven times more likely to have disability.
• PTPilot2020Neural and visceral manipulation in infants with congenital muscular torticollis: a feasibility study.Journal of physical therapy scienceTen infants with congenital muscular torticollis tolerated a gentle neural and visceral manipulation approach without crying. Their neck movement improved significantly after eight sessions and remained better four months later. This small study suggests the method is feasible but does not prove it works better than standard care.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2020Brief Report: Assessment Experiences of Children with Neurogenetic Syndromes: Caregivers' Perceptions and Suggestions for Improvement.Journal of autism and developmental disordersCaregivers of children with neurogenetic syndromes reported mixed assessment experiences. They valued understanding scores but disliked generic feedback and inappropriate testing materials. Dissatisfaction increased with child age. Examiners should individualize testing, ask about interests first, and provide actionable, strengths-based recommendations.
• PTSystematic Review2020Assessing participation of children with acquired brain injury and cerebral palsy: a systematic review of measurement properties.Developmental medicine and child neurologyOnly 12 of 37 tools used to measure participation in children with brain injury or cerebral palsy align with attendance or involvement. Evidence that they work well in these children is limited, so match the tool to the clinical question.
• PTOTCohort2020Evaluating hand performance and strength in children with high rates of smartphone usage: an observational study.Journal of physical therapy scienceChildren with high smartphone addiction scores had much weaker grip and pinch strength in their dominant hand than those with low scores. Their dominant-hand grip averaged 19.6 kg versus 58.9 kg in the low-use group. Hand function scores were also worse in the high-use group.
• PTCase-Control2020Altered GABA Concentration in Brain Motor Area Is Associated with the Severity of Motor Disabilities in Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder.Journal of autism and developmental disordersBrain GABA+ levels did not differ significantly between autistic and typically developing groups. In autistic participants, higher GABA+ in the primary motor area was linked to poorer total motor scores and poorer strength and agility.
• PTQualitative2020Perceived Barriers of Modified Ride-On Car Use of Young Children With Disabilities: A Content Analysis.Pediatric physical therapy : the official publication of the Section on Pediatrics of the American Physical Therapy AssociationReported barriers to modified ride-on car use were most frequently device and environmental factors, then caregiver and child factors. Space, weather, steering, tolerance, and time were among the concerns.
• PTCohort2020Proportions of youth with visual impairments meeting 24-hr movement guidelines.Child: care, health and developmentOnly 5.8% of 561 US youth with visual impairments met all three 24-hour activity, screen time, and sleep guidelines. Few met daily physical activity, while screen time limits were often met.
• PTOTSLPCohort2020Trajectories of Change in the Behavioral and Health Phenotype of Adolescents and Adults with Fragile X Syndrome and Intellectual Disability: Longitudinal Trends Over a Decade.Journal of autism and developmental disordersDaily living skills improved through adolescence but plateaued or declined in the 30s. Behavior problems decreased overall but remained clinically significant for many. BMI and health conditions increased steadily over the decade. Higher autism symptoms predicted worse starting independence and behavior.