TOPIC

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 14 OF 39 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTOTOther2021Relative independence of upper limb position sense and reaching in children with hemiparetic perinatal stroke.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationChildren with hemiparetic perinatal stroke varied in upper limb position sense and reaching. Robot tests showed no significant link between the two, so a child can have impaired position sense but normal reaching, or the reverse.
• PTOTSLPCohort2021Neurodevelopmental profiles of children with unilateral cerebral palsy associated with middle cerebral artery and periventricular venous infarctions.Developmental medicine and child neurologyChildren with unilateral cerebral palsy caused by middle cerebral artery infarction had significantly worse hand function, sensation, and cognition than those with periventricular venous infarction. Therapists should screen for sensory and cognitive barriers in this group before starting upper limb training.
• PTOTSLPCohort2021A Data Driven Approach Reveals That Anomalous Motor System Connectivity is Associated With the Severity of Core Autism Symptoms.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchChildren with autism showed weaker brain connectivity between the right posterior cerebellum and the left inferior parietal lobule. This specific connectivity pattern correlated with more severe social deficits and repetitive behaviors, but showed no significant link to motor imitation or ball-catching scores.
• PTOTCohort2021The multi-directional reach test in children with Down syndrome.Hong Kong physiotherapy journal : official publication of the Hong Kong Physiotherapy Association Limited = Wu li chih liaoChildren with Down syndrome showed shorter backward reach distances than typical peers. Younger children with Down syndrome also had shorter forward reach. They relied on hip and mixed movement strategies, never the ankle strategy used by typical children.
• PTOTOther2021A Scoping Review of Evidence-Informed Recommendations for Designing Inclusive Playgrounds.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesThirteen design recommendations emerged from 35 studies, including flat surfaces, ramps to elevated structures, and sensory variety. Trained staff and involving families in the design process were also key to reducing barriers for children with disabilities.
• PTOTSLPCohortAssociation of Positional Plagiocephaly and Developmental Delay Within a Primary Care Network.Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBPInfants diagnosed with positional plagiocephaly in primary care were more likely to later receive a developmental delay diagnosis, particularly for motor and language delays. The skull shape diagnosis typically appeared months before the delay, suggesting it may serve as an early marker for children who need closer developmental monitoring.
• PTCase Report2021Examining the Feasibility of Early Mobilization With Virtual Reality Gaming Using Head-Mounted Display and Adaptive Software With Adolescents in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit: Case Report.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesTwo adolescents in intensive care completed VR gaming added to usual early mobility physical therapy for an average of 27 minutes per session, with no serious adverse events related to the intervention, although technical issues and adverse events occurred.
• PTOTQualitative2021Parents' Perspectives on a Computer Game-Assisted Rehabilitation Program for Manual Dexterity in Children With Cerebral Palsy: Qualitative Analysis of Expectations, Child Engagement, and Benefits.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesParents found game-assisted hand therapy more engaging than conventional therapy for children with cerebral palsy, noting improved dexterity and interest. They requested more frequent updates to maintain challenge and expressed interest in home-based use.
• PTQualitative2021Parents' perspectives on nusinersen treatment for children with spinal muscular atrophy.Developmental medicine and child neurologyParents described choosing nusinersen as weighing survival, disease progression, and their child's daily life. Clear, neutral physician communication and accessible information helped them feel able to accept or decline treatment.
• PTCohort2021The role of pre-season health characteristics as injury risk factors in female adolescent soccer players.Journal of physical therapy scienceHistory of concussion correlated with more injuries in female high school soccer players. Pre-season neck pain and dizziness were associated with slower eye movement test scores, but subjective complaints alone did not predict injury count in this small sample.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2021Predictors of mental health among parents of children with cerebral palsy during the COVID-19 pandemic in Iran: A web-based cross-sectional study.Research in developmental disabilitiesCaregiver burden predicted anxiety, depression, and stress more strongly than income or education. About half of parents reported anxiety symptoms. For therapists, this means assessing and reducing the daily load of care, not just the child's function, is central to supporting the family.
• PTOTSLPCohort2021Not just at school: Inclusion of children with autism spectrum disorder in a weight management program in a community pediatric setting.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceChildren with autism completed an inclusive weight management program at the same rate as peers without autism. They achieved similar weight outcomes. Adaptations like predictable routines and sensory adjustments allowed them to participate fully alongside typically developing children.
• PTPilot2021Effects of Orthoses on Standing Postural Control and Muscle Activity in Children With Cerebral Palsy.Pediatric physical therapy : the official publication of the Section on Pediatrics of the American Physical Therapy AssociationA custom orthosis reduced center-of-gravity sway compared with bare feet or the usual AFO, and reduced eyes-closed loss of balance compared with bare feet. Muscle activity did not decrease.
• PTOTSLPCohort2021Evaluation of sex differences in preschool children with and without autism spectrum disorder enrolled in the study to explore early development.Research in developmental disabilitiesPreschool boys and girls with autism symptoms scored almost identically on behavior, development, and screening tests. Small differences in restricted interests were not clinically meaningful. Screening tools appear equally sensitive for young children of both sexes, so do not assume girls present differently at this age.
• PTCohort2021Normative Achilles and patellar tendon shear wave speeds and loading patterns during walking in typically developing children.Gait & postureShear wave tensiometry successfully tracked Achilles and patellar tendon loading in twelve typically developing children walking at five speeds. The method revealed distinct swing-phase tendon forces that standard joint moment data missed, providing a new way to visualize muscle-tendon behavior.
• PTRCT2021IncobotulinumtoxinA for the treatment of lower-limb spasticity in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy: A phase 3 study.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineHigher doses were not shown to work better than lower doses, but all incobotulinumtoxinA doses tested reduced plantar flexor tone in children with cerebral palsy lower-limb spasticity.
• PTCohort2021Parent-Reported PEDI-CAT Mobility and Gross Motor Function in Infants With Cerebral Palsy.Pediatric physical therapy : the official publication of the Section on Pediatrics of the American Physical Therapy AssociationParents reported their infants' daily mobility accurately. Scores matched therapist assessments closely, even for babies with severe motor impairments. This allows PTs to use a short parent questionnaire to capture typical daily function without a lengthy clinic evaluation.
• PTCohort2021Considering Domain-Specific Experiential Learning: Self-Efficacy in Pediatric Physical Therapy Education.Pediatric physical therapy : the official publication of the Section on Pediatrics of the American Physical Therapy AssociationPhysical therapy students reported more confidence communicating with children and caregivers and handling children clinically after a pediatric curriculum. Starting confidence was linked to prior contact with children.
• PTOTOther2021Scoping Review of Judgment-Based Measures of Ambulation with Assistive Devices for Children and Youth.Physical & occupational therapy in pediatricsExisting judgment-based measures for children walking with assistive devices rarely specify the device type or separate walkers from crutches. This makes it hard to track progress when a child switches devices. Current tools also use vague response scales that do not clearly define difficulty versus assistance.
• PTOther2021Female Adolescent Soccer Players Utilize Different Neuromuscular Strategies Between Limbs During the Propulsion Phase of a Lateral Vertical Jump.International journal of sports physical therapyJump height did not differ between kicking and non-kicking limbs in adolescent female soccer players. The limbs still moved differently during takeoff: the kicking limb used more hip contribution and less knee contribution.
• PTOTPilot2021Assessing Physical Function and Mobility following Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury with the NIH Toolbox Motor Battery: A Feasibility Study.Physical & occupational therapy in pediatricsThe NIH Toolbox Motor Battery is feasible for children with traumatic brain injury, taking about 23 minutes. It detects endurance and balance problems that parents may not report, but it fails in children under 5 due to distraction and difficulty following instructions.
• PTOTPilot2021Immersive virtual reality in children with upper limb injuries: Findings from a feasibility study.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineIn a small feasibility study, children with upper limb injuries reported that immersive virtual reality games made rehabilitation exercises more enjoyable, easier, and less painful than usual therapy. Physiotherapists observed increased range of motion and engagement, though the study lacked a control group and baseline data.
• PTOTSLPOther2021Feeding and eating problems in children and adolescents with autism: A scoping review.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceFeeding problems, especially food selectivity driven by sensory issues, are pervasive in autistic youth. True eating disorders involving weight or shape concerns are rarely studied, yet evidence suggests higher risk. Clinicians must distinguish between sensory-based refusal and body-image pathology to avoid misdiagnosis and select appropriate treatment.
• PTOTOther2021Development and sensibility assessment of a health-related quality of life instrument for adults with severe disabilities who are non-ambulatory.Journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities : JARIDCaregivers and professionals found a new Dutch caregiver-rated questionnaire for adults with severe non-ambulatory disabilities meaningful, understandable and usable. It takes about 20 minutes to complete, but further testing is needed before routine clinical use.
• PTOTSLPPilot2021Surviving and Thriving: Early Intervention for Neonatal Survivors With Developmental Disability in Uganda.Infants and young childrenA peer-led early intervention for infants with disability in Uganda improved family quality of life and caregiver confidence. Neurological scores rose slightly, but developmental quotients did not change. Nutritional status worsened, with more children underweight and stunted after the program.
• PTOTCohort2021Gripforce reduction in children with an upper neonatal brachial plexus palsy.Journal of rehabilitation medicineChildren with upper neonatal brachial plexus palsy had significantly weaker grip in their affected hand compared to healthy controls. This weakness was not linked to reduced sensation, shoulder movement, or poor bimanual coordination, suggesting the cause is unclear rather than a simple sensory or mechanical deficit.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2021Youth Baseball Caregiver Understanding of Safe Pitching Guidelines and Player Injury.International journal of sports physical therapyMost caregivers of youth pitchers did not know safe pitching guidelines existed. Caregivers who knew the rules monitored pitch counts better. Pitchers throwing breaking balls or pitching for more than six months a year were more likely to report arm pain.
• PTOTOther2021Assessing the validity of administrative health data for the identification of children and youth with autism spectrum disorder in Ontario.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchOntario administrative health data identified only 50.0% of children and youth with autism, and 56.6% of those flagged actually had autism. Billing data alone misses many and may mislabel others.
• PTSurvey2021The role of physiotherapy in the respiratory management of children with neuromuscular diseases: A South African perspective.The South African journal of physiotherapySouth African physiotherapists largely recommend manual airway clearance techniques like assisted coughing and adapted postural drainage for children with neuromuscular diseases. Mechanical devices such as cough assist machines and breath-stacking are rarely used or recommended, likely due to cost and limited training.
• PTOTOther2021Assessing the Reliability of Handheld Dynamometry and Ultrasonography to Measure Quadriceps Strength and Muscle Thickness in Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults.Physical & occupational therapy in pediatricsHandheld dynamometry and ultrasound produced repeatable quadriceps strength and thickness readings in healthy children, adolescents, and young adults. Using the top two of three strength trials made readings more consistent. The study did not test patients with motor impairment.
• PTOTSLPCohort2021DSM-5 symptom expression in toddlers.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceCaregiver reports distinguish autism from other delays in toddlers. Repetitive behaviors and relationship deficits were most common. Insistence on sameness was rare, so two of the three remaining repetitive behavior criteria are needed for diagnosis. No single behavior is unique to autism.
• PTOTSystematic Review2021Early intervention evidence for infants with or at risk for cerebral palsy: an overview of systematic reviews.Developmental medicine and child neurologyEarly motor interventions for infants at risk of cerebral palsy show limited evidence. Active, task-specific training and environmental enrichment are weakly supported, but many trials are low quality. Passive techniques like stretching are ineffective. Clinicians should prioritize engaging, goal-directed activities over generalized stimulation.
• PTOTCase Report2021Gait training using a hybrid assistive limb after botulinum toxin treatment for cerebral palsy: a case report.Journal of physical therapy scienceA single case report describes a man with cerebral palsy who received botulinum toxin injections followed by robot-assisted gait training. Walking speed, endurance, and gross motor function improved and were maintained for three months. This describes one person's outcome, not a proven treatment.
• PTOTSLPPilot2021Short report on research trends during the COVID-19 pandemic and use of telehealth interventions and remote brain research in children with autism spectrum disorder.Autism : the international journal of research and practice6 children with ASD engaged in 60-minute Zoom gross-motor or seated-play activities twice weekly for 8 weeks. Children gave satisfaction 4.4 and parents 4.3 out of 5. No completed trial results are reported.
• PTOTSystematic Review2021Effect of virtual reality therapy, combined with physiotherapy for improving motor proficiency in individuals with Down syndrome: A systematic review.The South African journal of physiotherapyAdding Nintendo Wii exercise to standard physiotherapy or occupational therapy did not show overall better motor proficiency in Down syndrome. Agility improved in some studies, but balance, strength and coordination were mixed or inconclusive.
• PTPilot2021Leg Movement Rate Pre- and Post-Kicking Intervention in Infants with Down Syndrome.Physical & occupational therapy in pediatricsNine infants with Down syndrome increased their daily leg movement rate after an eight-week home kicking toy intervention, but they still moved less than infants with typical development. Gross motor scores improved, yet the study cannot prove the toy caused the change.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2021Exploration of Sensory Processing Difficulties among Children Attending Primary School in Denmark.Occupational therapy internationalParents of 1,723 Danish primary school children reported that 21.3% showed definite sensory processing difficulties, with boys more affected than girls. The most common issues were sensory seeking and auditory filtering, suggesting a need for classroom awareness rather than clinical diagnosis.
• PTOTSLPNarrative Review2021A Narrative Review of Function-Focused Measures for Children With Neurodevelopmental Disorders.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesA review identified 14 ICF-based tools for children with neurodevelopmental disorders. Most focus on participation and activity rather than body function. Seven target cerebral palsy, but three can be used for any child regardless of diagnosis.
• PTOTSLPOther2021Fathers Matter: Enhancing Healthcare Experiences Among Fathers of Children With Developmental Disabilities.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesFathers of children with disabilities said they were involved, but clinicians said fathers were less involved. Seven fathers and 13 clinicians described ways to include fathers: direct attention, explain, take time, and accommodate schedules.
• PTSurvey2021Physiotherapists' use and perceptions of digital remote physiotherapy during COVID-19 lockdown in Switzerland: an online cross-sectional survey.Archives of physiotherapySwiss physiotherapists rapidly adopted remote therapy during lockdown, rising from 4.9% to 44.6% of practitioners. Despite this uptake, two-thirds lacked confidence in its future utility, and nearly half offered services without billing, signaling poor integration into standard care.
• PTOTRCT2021Efficacy and safety of onabotulinumtoxinA with standardized occupational therapy for treatment of pediatric upper limb spasticity: Phase III placebo-controlled randomized trial.NeuroRehabilitationOnabotulinumtoxinA plus occupational therapy significantly reduced upper limb spasticity in children compared to placebo plus occupational therapy. However, it did not significantly improve overall clinical impression of change or active functional goals at the primary time point, though passive goals showed some benefit.
• PTNarrative Review2021Lumbar spondylolisthesis: STATE of the art on assessment and conservative treatment.Archives of physiotherapyThis is a clinical overview of lumbar spondylolisthesis, not a study with new results. It summarizes existing evidence on how to assess and treat the condition, so it offers no new data to change your practice.
• PTOther2021Association between post-concussion symptoms and oculomotor deficits among adolescents.Brain injury88% of adolescents with persistent concussion symptoms had an eye movement or focusing deficit, and poorer eye focusing tracked with higher symptom scores. It does not show that treating the deficit reduces symptoms.
• PTOTSLPRCT2021Safety and Effectiveness of a Perturbation-based Neuromuscular Training Program on Dynamic Balance in Adolescent Females: A Randomized Controlled Trial.International journal of sports physical therapyA five-week perturbation training program was safe for adolescent females but did not improve dynamic balance, strength, proprioception, or flexibility compared to normal activity. The primary outcome was null.
• PTOTSLPOther2021Functional Consequences of Poor Binaural Hearing in Development: Evidence From Children With Unilateral Hearing Loss and Children Receiving Bilateral Cochlear Implants.Trends in hearingChildren with unilateral hearing loss had similar language, academic, and visuospatial memory deficits as peers with bilateral deafness using cochlear implants. Normal hearing in one ear did not prevent these developmental delays. Balance issues were equally common in both hearing loss groups.
• PTOther2021Establishing Normative Values for Inter-Limb Kinetic Symmetry During Landing in Uninjured Adolescent Athletes.International journal of sports physical therapyUninjured adolescent athletes typically show 16-20% asymmetry in landing forces. In a small group of post-ACL reconstruction athletes, six of eleven exceeded the 75th percentile of this norm, consistently loading their healthy limb more than the surgical one.
• PTOTSLPCohort2021Assessing the Quality of Life of Parents of Children With Disabilities Using WHOQoL BREF During COVID-19 Pandemic.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesParents of children with disabilities reported significantly lower quality of life in physical health, social relationships, and environment domains compared to parents of typically developing children. However, psychological health scores showed no significant difference between the two groups.
• PTOTSLPPilot2021A novel measure of matching categories for early development: Item creation and pilot feasibility study.Research in developmental disabilitiesMost children with developmental delays could engage with a new tablet-based concept matching task, but many struggled with the dragging motion. This pilot shows the format is feasible, but the interface needs changes to reduce motor demands before clinical use.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2021Pediatric unilateral spatial neglect: A systematic review.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicinePediatric unilateral spatial neglect often persists for years but is missed by simple paper-and-pencil tests. Clinicians should use challenging functional tasks, eye tracking, or age-appropriate tools like the Teddy Bear Cancellation Test to detect it, as standard assessments frequently fail to identify the condition.
• PTOTSLPCohort2021The intersection of gross motor abilities and participation in children with autism spectrum disorder.Infants and young childrenChildren with autism who had better gross motor skills participated more in self-care, active play, and social interaction. Many children lacked opportunities for team sports or bike riding due to parent or environmental factors, not just their own ability.