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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 20 OF 39 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTOTOther2022Validation of the North Star Assessment for Limb-Girdle Type Muscular Dystrophies.Physical therapyThe North Star Assessment for Limb-Girdle Type Muscular Dystrophies reliably measures motor function across 14 different LGMD subtypes. It works for both ambulatory and non-ambulatory patients, with high agreement between different therapists scoring the same video.
• PTOTSLPCohort2023Do Autism-Specific and General Developmental Screens Have Complementary Clinical Value?Journal of autism and developmental disordersCombining autism-specific and general developmental screens at 18 months did not reach acceptable sensitivity and specificity levels for both conditions. The ordinally scored Q-CHAT-10-O showed better sensitivity than the M-CHAT-R/F, while a failed communication subscale was a strong red flag for autism or delay.
• PTOther2022Reliability, minimal detectable change and measurement errors in knee extension muscle strength measurement using a hand-held dynamometer in young children.Journal of physical therapy scienceKnee extension strength in healthy 3-6 year-olds can be reliably measured with a hand-held dynamometer. A change greater than 4.4 kgf indicates true muscle strength change, distinguishing it from measurement error.
• PTCohort2023Management Of Spastic Equinovarus Foot in Children with Cerebral Palsy: An Evaluation of Anatomical Landmarks for Selective Nerve Blocks of the Tibial Nerve Motor Branches.Journal of rehabilitation medicineUltrasound landmarks for tibial motor branches to calf muscles were mapped in 24 children with cerebral palsy and spastic equinovarus foot. Positions were given as percentages of leg length, not only millimetres, to help target diagnostic nerve blocks.
• PTOTSLPCohort2023What is the concordance between parent- and education professional-reported adaptive functioning in autistic children using the VABS-II?Journal of autism and developmental disordersParents rated autistic children's adaptive skills higher than school staff did, particularly in socialisation and motor domains. Agreement was poor overall, meaning a child's function looks different at home than at school. Both perspectives are needed for accurate assessment.
• PTSLPCohort2023Temporal trends, clinical characteristics, and sociodemographic profile of post-neonatally acquired cerebral palsy in Australia, 1973-2012: A population-based observational study.Developmental medicine and child neurologyPost-neonatal cerebral palsy declined in two Australian states. Cerebrovascular accidents were the most common cause. Among children born 1995 to 2012, 40% required assistive equipment for mobility, 32% were non-verbal, and 50% had active epilepsy.
• PTOTOther2022The subtypes of developmental coordination disorder.Developmental medicine and child neurologyChildren with developmental coordination disorder fall into four distinct performance profiles. Some show broad difficulties across motor, cognitive, and visual skills, while others have isolated gross or fine motor issues. This means a single test score can hide very different needs.
• PTCase Report2022Reduction of lumbar hyperlordosis in a pediatric: a Chiropractic Biophysics® case report.Journal of physical therapy scienceAn 11-year-old girl with chronic back pain received Chiropractic BioPhysics techniques. After 57 treatments, her spinal curvature measurements improved and her pain resolved. Because this is a single case, it does not prove the treatment works for other children.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2022An interdisciplinary nationwide complex intervention for lifespan neurodevelopmental service development: Underpinning principles and realist programme theory.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesStakeholders identified seven practitioner-level mechanisms for successful service change: being action-oriented, providing concise evidence-informed information, and being an accessible team. These principles guided the National Autism Implementation Team in Scotland.
• PTQualitative2022The impact of digital physical therapy during COVID-19 lockdown in children with developmental disorders: A qualitative study.Brazilian journal of physical therapyParents found digital physical therapy useful because it let treatment continue, but they felt untrained, burdened, and missed hands-on contact. They preferred face-to-face therapy and saw digital sessions as occasional complements.
• PTOTSystematic Review2023Bimanual movements in children with cerebral palsy: a systematic review of instrumented assessments.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationMotion capture tools distinguish children with CP from typically developing peers during bimanual tasks, but their reliability and ability to track therapy change remain unproven. Lab protocols fail to capture real-world movement, limiting their use as standalone clinical measures.
• PTOTCohort2023Dystonia in individuals with spastic cerebral palsy and isolated periventricular leukomalacia.Developmental medicine and child neurologyDystonia was found on expert video review in 50 of 85 ambulatory children and adults with spastic cerebral palsy and isolated periventricular leukomalacia. It was more common with higher gross motor impairment, and often affected the fingers or hips.
• PTOTCohort2023More Physical Activity Is Correlated With Reduction in Kinesiophobia for Adolescents With Persistent Symptoms After Concussion.Journal of sport rehabilitationFor adolescents with persistent concussion symptoms, taking more steps and exercising more often during recovery correlated with a moderate reduction in fear of movement. This link was not seen in those who recovered quickly, and intensity or duration did not matter.
• PTOTSLPCohort2023Urgent computed tomography angiography in paediatric stroke.Developmental medicine and child neurologyUrgent CT angiography quickly identified large vessel strokes, enabling timely endovascular therapy. Children with atypical symptoms like seizures or vomiting were diagnosed much slower, missing treatment windows. CT angiography is a useful first step when MRI is not immediately available.
• PTCohort2023Motor development in infants with complex congenital heart disease: A longitudinal study.Developmental medicine and child neurologyInfants with complex congenital heart disease scored lower on motor quality tests than healthy peers, with 45% to 58% falling below the 15th centile. Single ventricle physiology and low oxygen at discharge predicted worse motor development, particularly in movement variation and milestones.
• PTOTSLPCohort2023Sports participation reduces the progression of idiopathic scoliosis and the need for bracing. An observational study of 511 adolescents with Risser 0-2 maturation stage.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineAdolescents with idiopathic scoliosis who played non-competitive sports regularly had a lower risk of curve progression and needing a brace. The risk decreased further as weekly sports frequency increased from one to four times. This observational data supports encouraging activity, not replacing specific exercises.
• PTCase Report2022The Management of Valgus Extension Overload Syndrome Experienced with Hitting in a High School Baseball Player: A Case Report.International journal of sports physical therapyA high school catcher with valgus extension overload had medial elbow pain with hitting. In this case, after 9 physical therapy sessions, he reported 100% alleviation of symptoms with hitting and returned to play at full-capacity without symptom recurrence at seven months.
• PTOTSLPCase-Control2022A Comparison of Factors Associated with Running-Related Injuries between Adult and Adolescent Runners.International journal of sports physical therapyBoth adult and adolescent runners with a history of injury reported intentional weight loss and scored lower on movement quality tests than uninjured runners. These factors appear relevant across age groups, though the cross-sectional design cannot prove they caused the injuries.
• PTOTSLPCohort2023Sociocultural variables have a major impact on participation in patients treated for paediatric posterior fossa tumours.Child: care, health and developmentChildren treated for posterior fossa tumours face high rates of school and social difficulties. These barriers were linked to a cumulative load of risk factors, including maternal education level, lack of regular physical activity, and treatment side effects like cerebellar mutism.
• PTOTCohort2023Movement smoothness during dynamic postural control to a static target differs between autistic and neurotypical children.Gait & postureAutistic children moved jerkily and slowly during a balance task. They often stepped instead of leaning, unlike neurotypical peers. However, they were equally accurate. Small sample size limits generalizability to children with lower IQs.
• PTCohort2023Independently ambulatory children with spina bifida experience near-typical knee and ankle joint moments and forces during walking.Gait & postureMost independently walking children with spina bifida generate near-typical knee and ankle forces during gait. However, those with the weakest plantar flexors experienced higher compressive knee and shear ankle forces, suggesting a specific subgroup at risk for altered loading despite high function.
• PTOTSLPCohort2023Vision function in children 10 years after grade 3 or 4 intraventricular haemorrhage with ventricular dilation: A masked prospective study.Developmental medicine and child neurologyTen years later, every child tested had at least one visual impairment, averaging four per child. Parents reported normal vision for most, missing eye movement and processing deficits linked to lower cognitive scores and extra school support.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2023A scoping Review of Tools to Evaluate Existing Playgrounds for Inclusivity of Children with Disabilities.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesNo single tool captures playground inclusion well. Most check physical access but miss social play and user input. Australian government tools covered the most criteria. Use these to audit spaces, but remember they are not validated and often ignore the child's experience.
• PTCohort2022Brace and Physiotherapeutic Scoliosis Specific Exercises (PSSE) for Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS) treatment: a prospective study following Scoliosis Research Society (SRS) criteria.Archives of physiotherapyIn adolescents with high-risk idiopathic scoliosis treated with Cheneau brace and Schroth-based exercises, 65.3% remained stable, 23.2% improved, and 11.5% progressed. No control group was used, so this cannot show whether brace, exercises, or the treatment together caused the result.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2023Patient Reported Outcome Measures in Dysphagia Research Following Stroke: A Scoping Review and Qualitative Analysis.DysphagiaMost stroke dysphagia trials ignore patient experience. The two common tools miss environmental barriers like support and attitudes. Use them with caution, knowing they do not capture the social impact of swallowing problems.
• PTOTSLPCohort2023Participation of children and young people with cerebral palsy in activities of daily living in rural Uganda.Developmental medicine and child neurologyChildren with cerebral palsy in rural Uganda attended fewer daily activities than peers and were less involved when present. Community activities showed the largest gaps. Severe motor limitations predicted lower participation, but age and sex did not.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2023Transition to adult services experienced by young people with cerebral palsy: A cross-sectional study.Developmental medicine and child neurologyMost young people with cerebral palsy did not experience key transition practices. Only 13% had a written plan, 16% met the adult team, and 10% knew their GP got a discharge letter. Services reported providing these practices more often than young people experienced them.
• PTOTSLPOther2023Telehealth delivery of paediatric rehabilitation for children with neurodisability: A mixed methods realist evaluation of contexts, mechanisms and outcomes.Child: care, health and developmentTelehealth improved access and scheduling for families of children with neurodisability, but only worked when offered as a choice alongside in-person care. Practitioners lacked training and organizational support, leading to inconsistent delivery and poor documentation of goals.
• PTSLPCohort2023Examining Health Conditions, Impairments, and Quality of Life for Pediatric Feeding Disorders.DysphagiaChildren with feeding disorders had worse quality of life than those with kidney transplants or acute liver failure. Most had neurologic or genetic conditions, or no known diagnosis, with sensory issues and limited volume being the most common impairments.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2022Functional activity and communication-social ability of youths with developmental disabilities: a qualitative study.Journal of physical therapy scienceParents reported that although most youths walked independently and had high overall function scores, they struggled with specific tasks like using a knife, managing stairs safely, and understanding deeper meanings. Many needed reminders and supervision to complete self-care activities.
• PTCase Report2023Case report: The gait deviation index may predict neurotherapeutic effects of FES-assisted gait training in children with cerebral palsy.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesIn two children with cerebral palsy, the Gait Deviation Index (GDI) improved after FES training, with the most impaired child gaining 11 points. Joint-by-joint error measures did not consistently predict these gains, so GDI may be a better indicator of lasting response than detailed kinematic analysis.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2023'I bring her up with love:' Perspectives of caregivers of children with neurodevelopmental delays in western Kenya.Child: care, health and developmentCaregivers in western Kenya described isolation, financial strain and safety fears as their main challenges. Despite community stigma, they reported deep love for their children and found critical support and respite through faith and religious organizations.
• PTOTSLPCohort2023Epilepsy and proxy-reported health-related quality of life in children and young people with non-ambulatory cerebral palsy.Developmental medicine and child neurologyChildren with severe cerebral palsy and epilepsy who took more anti-seizure medications had lower overall quality of life scores, even after accounting for how often they had seizures. Any days with seizures in the last month also linked to lower quality of life.
• PTOTRCT2022Motor function and safety after allogeneic cord blood and cord tissue-derived mesenchymal stromal cells in cerebral palsy: An open-label, randomized trial.Developmental medicine and child neurologyAllogeneic cord blood infusion showed greater gross motor improvement than natural history at 12 months on the GMFM-66. This was a post hoc finding in an underpowered safety trial. No significant difference was found for cord tissue-derived cells.
• PTOther2023Accelerometer-measured physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep in children with cerebral palsy and their adherence to the 24-hour activity guidelines.Developmental medicine and child neurologyOnly 5.9% of ambulatory children with cerebral palsy met both physical activity and sleep guideline targets. Most had too little vigorous activity and too little sleep, especially children in GMFCS level III and preschoolers.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2023Alexithymia and intolerance of uncertainty predict somatic symptoms in autistic and non-autistic adults.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic adults reported more physical symptoms than non-autistic peers, but this was not caused by autism itself. Instead, difficulty identifying emotions and intolerance of uncertainty predicted the symptoms. Treating these psychological traits may help reduce physical distress in autistic patients.
• PTOTSLPCase-Control2023Brain volumes and functional outcomes in children without cerebral palsy after therapeutic hypothermia for neonatal hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy.Developmental medicine and child neurologyChildren without cerebral palsy after neonatal cooling had smaller whole-brain grey and white matter volumes than controls. Smaller hippocampal and thalamic volumes correlated with lower IQ and motor scores in these children. No significant differences remained when accounting for total brain size.
• PTOTNarrative Review2022Spreading the word: pediatric pain education from treatment to prevention.Archives of physiotherapyPain education for children shows mixed early results, with some studies finding improvements in knowledge and fear, while others showed no change in pain intensity. It is currently an emerging field requiring further high-quality trials.
• PTOTOther2023A core outcome set for lower limb orthopaedic surgery for children with cerebral palsy: An international multi-stakeholder consensus study.Developmental medicine and child neurologyInternational consensus identified 19 outcomes across 8 domains to measure after lower limb surgery in children with cerebral palsy. These include pain, walking, independence, and self-esteem. Adverse events and assistive device use were excluded from the core set.
• PTOTCohort2023Longitudinal development of hand use in children with unilateral spastic cerebral palsy from 18 months to 18 years.Developmental medicine and child neurologyHand function in unilateral CP stabilizes around age 7 and remains steady through adolescence. Higher-functioning children reach their plateau earlier, but all groups maintain their bimanual ability. Regular follow-ups are essential because individual variation remains large.
• PTNarrative Review2023Assisted reproductive technology: Short- and long-term outcomes.Developmental medicine and child neurologyMultiple embryo transfer and preterm birth carry the clearest neurodevelopmental risk in ART-conceived children, not ART alone. Neurodevelopmental outcomes are mostly reassuring.
• PTOTOther2022Motor function, muscle strength and health-related quality of life of children perinatally infected with HIV.The South African journal of physiotherapyIn 30 ambulatory children with perinatally acquired HIV, 36.7% were delayed and 23.3% were at high risk of motor delay on a standard motor test. Manual dexterity was worst, with sixty percent at risk or delayed. Girls had lower jump distance than boys.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2023Follow-up visits after a concussion in the pediatric population: An integrative review.NeuroRehabilitationChildren and youth are not consistently followed up after a concussion diagnosis. Reported follow-up rates varied widely from 13.2% to 99.5%. Evidence on factors influencing attendance, such as age, sex, and insurance, was inconsistent across studies.
• PTOTSystematic Review2023Neuro-imaging characteristics of sensory impairment in cerebral palsy; a systematic review.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesChildren with cerebral palsy and cortical brain lesions have significantly worse touch and object recognition than those with white matter lesions. Sensory reorganization to the other brain hemisphere does not improve function. Lesion location and extent, not just motor damage, predict sensory deficits.
• PTOTSLPOther2022Quality of life beyond diagnosis in intellectual disability - Latent profiling.Research in developmental disabilitiesQuality of life in children with intellectual disability clusters into three profiles that do not match diagnosis alone. The best-scoring group still showed emotional difficulties, while lower-functioning groups struggled with independence and social interaction. Assess domains, not just labels.
• PTOTCase Report2023Biomechanically designed Curve Specific Corrective Exercise for Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis gives significant outcomes in an Adult: A case report.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesOne adult with severe scoliosis reported pain dropping from 8/10 to 1/10 and a major curve reducing by 13.8° after eight months of specific corrective exercises. This shows what happened to one person, not that the treatment works for others.
• PTOTSLPCohort2023Patterns of sensory processing in young children with autism: Differences in autism characteristics, adaptive skills, and attentional problems.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceMost young autistic children showed mixed sensory patterns rather than uniform severe differences. Children with definite sensory differences across all modalities had lower social and daily living skills and more attention problems. Those with mostly typical sensory profiles had fewer such difficulties.
• PTSurvey2022Barriers and Facilitators of Research in Pediatric Sports Medicine Practitioners: A Survey of the PRiSM Society.International journal of sports physical therapySports medicine clinicians and allied health practitioners both cited lack of time as their biggest barrier to research. However, what helps them differs: physicians need available research personnel, while allied health practitioners need mentoring and leadership support.
• PTCohort2022Deficits in Dynamic Balance and Hop Performance Following ACL Reconstruction Are Not Dependent on Meniscal Injury History.International journal of sports physical therapyAdolescent athletes with isolated ACL tears and those with meniscal repairs or partial meniscectomies showed similar deficits in dynamic balance and hop performance. Meniscal injury history did not change the degree of limb asymmetry at return-to-sport testing.
• PTOTSLPCohort2023Health-related quality of life in adolescents with cerebral palsy; a cross-sectional and longitudinal population-based study.Child: care, health and developmentFor adolescents with severe cerebral palsy, caregiver-reported quality of life remained largely stable over five years, except for general health which declined due to increased medication use. Severe motor impairment and pain consistently predicted lower quality of life across most domains.