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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 23 OF 39 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTOTSLPSurvey2023Inequities in COVID-19 vaccination coverage for adolescents with and without disability, national immunization Survey-Child COVID module, July 22, 2021-February 26, 2022.Disability and health journalAdolescents with disabilities had lower COVID-19 vaccination coverage than those without. The gap was widest for those with cognitive difficulties or trouble running errands alone. Parents of unvaccinated adolescents with disabilities reported more difficulty accessing vaccines despite higher intent to vaccinate.
• PTOTSLPCase Series2024A case series on the effect of dynamic neoprene orthosis on lower limb kinematic variables in children with cerebral palsy.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineFive children with crouch gait wore custom neoprene pants for six weeks. Hip and knee flexion decreased during walking, but responses varied widely. No group-level improvement was proven. Results are individual, not generalizable.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024Off to the park: a geospatial investigation of adapted ride-on car usage.Disability and rehabilitation. Assistive technologyChildren with disabilities drove adapted ride-on cars for longer and further when outdoors. Usage depended heavily on neighborhood accessibility, with children sticking to safe, walkable routes and avoiding inaccessible areas. Assessing local driving paths is essential for successful device provision.
• PTOTCase-Control2023Children With Bilateral Cerebral Palsy Exhibit Bimanual Asymmetric Motor Deficits and EEG Evidence of Dominant Sensorimotor Hemisphere Overreliance During Reaching.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairChildren with bilateral cerebral palsy showed slower, curved reaches and poor hand dexterity with both hands, worse on the non-dominant side. EEG revealed the dominant brain hemisphere worked harder than normal during these movements.
• PTCase Report2023Comprehensive Assessment of the Activity Level of the ICF Using Both Capacity and Performance Measures: A Case Report.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationTracking daily steps with a smartwatch helped a patient with Susac syndrome identify barriers like anxiety and sleep. This guided a self-management plan that improved walking speed and endurance over 4 months.
• PTOTSLPNarrative Review2023Virtual Reality for Pulmonary Rehabilitation: Comprehensive Review.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesThis review of 32 studies suggests virtual reality can help with breathing exercises for anxiety and lung conditions. Most participants reported feeling more relaxed and better able to control their breathing. However, the studies were small, short-term, and mixed healthy people with patients, so this is not proof that VR works as a standalone treatment.
• PTOTSLPPilot2023Developing a serious game for gaze stability rehabilitation in children with vestibular hypofunction.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationChildren with vestibular hypofunction found a new gaze-stability video game safe and highly satisfying. Their vision during head movements and balance scores improved, but the study combined the game with standard physiotherapy, so the game's specific effect cannot be separated.
• PTOTCase Report2024Oculomotor screening and neuro-visual rehabilitation following pediatric brain tumor resection.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineA neuro-visual rehabilitation program using prescribed glasses with tint and prism, eye exercises, and follow-up reduced a visual symptom score from 41 to 29 with normal below 16 after brain tumor surgery in one boy. This is one case, not proof it works.
• PTOther2023Prevention of hip dislocation in severe cerebral palsy (GMFCS III-IV-V): an interdisciplinary and multi-professional Care Pathway for clinical best practice implementation.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineChildren with severe cerebral palsy should have early hip screening, with X-ray by 24 months and more often if risk signs appear. Postural management is recommended; botulinum toxin A and preventive surgery are conditional team options. These are expert recommendations, not tested interventions.
• PTOTCohort2024Management of severe congenital femoral deficiency: Does surgical intervention enhance prosthetic function?Prosthetics and orthotics internationalNo significant differences in prosthetic function or quality of life were found between patients with severe congenital femoral deficiency who had surgery and those who did not. A small subgroup undergoing hip reconstruction showed better scores, but the study was too small to confirm this.
• PTOTRCT2024The influence of prehabilitation in patients with liver cirrhosis before liver transplantation: a randomized clinical trial.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicinePrehabilitation improved liver frailty and Child-Pugh scores after one month, but very low patient adherence prevented any conclusions at three months. The study could not determine if prehabilitation is more effective than standard care for patients awaiting liver transplantation.
• PTOTCase Report2024Multidisciplinary physical rehabilitation program of individuals with spinal muscular atrophy in an inclusive school setting.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineA nine-year-old girl with type 2 SMA improved in sitting and rolling after a year of combined physiotherapy and hippotherapy. She sustained sitting for five minutes and gained strength, but could not walk. This single case cannot prove the treatment works.
• PTOTPilot2024Ankle proprioception in children with cerebral palsy.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineChildren with cerebral palsy needed larger ankle position differences to detect movement than peers. However, their consistency in judging positions was normal. This suggests the deficit is a shift in where they perceive neutral, not random error in sensing.
• PTOTCase-Control2023In-depth quantification of bimanual coordination using the Kinarm exoskeleton robot in children with unilateral cerebral palsy.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationChildren with unilateral cerebral palsy showed impaired bimanual coordination compared to typically developing peers. The ball-on-bar task best distinguished coordination deficits and related them to manual ability, while the object-hit task primarily reflected differences between the hands.
• PTCohort2023Exercising More Than 150 min/wk After Concussion Is Associated With Sleep Quality Improvements.The Journal of head trauma rehabilitationAdolescents who averaged more than 150 minutes/week of exercise after concussion reported greater sleep quality improvement over one month than those who did not. This does not prove exercise caused the change.
• PTSLPSystematic Review2023Scoping review: quality of life of siblings of children who are deaf and hard of hearing, have a vision or motor impairment.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesSiblings of children with hearing, vision, or motor impairments had mixed quality of life: some had higher depression and behavior problems, while others showed stronger prosocial behavior and close sibling relationships.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024Outcomes following intensive day rehabilitation for young people in Western Australia.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineYoung people in intensive day rehab improved in function and goal attainment, with gains maintained at six months. But with no control group, natural recovery or community therapy may explain some progress, so do not assume the programme alone caused the change.
• PTOther2023Audiovisual biofeedback amplifies plantarflexor adaptation during walking among children with cerebral palsy.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationChildren and adolescents with cerebral palsy increased calf muscle activity during treadmill walking with every biofeedback type. Audiovisual feedback, alone or with an exoskeleton, held the gain longest. Combined feedback was faster than audiovisual feedback, not larger. The gain stopped when feedback stopped.
• PTOTSLPNarrative Review2023Whole Body Vibration Therapy for Children with Disabilities: A Survey of Potential Risks and Benefits.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationWhole body vibration machines may pose risks to children with disabilities. Many studies used intensities exceeding safety limits, and long-term effects are unknown. Clinicians should avoid unsupervised use and prioritize low-intensity protocols with strict safety monitoring.
• PTOther2024Results of Gensingen Bracing in Patients With Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis: Retrospective Cross-Sectional Feasibility Study.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesIn 33 girls with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, full-time Gensingen brace follow-up records showed a Cobb angle 11.7 degrees lower than baseline; no patient progressed. This is a retrospective single-center feasibility study, not a controlled test of brace efficacy.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2023Co-designing solutions to enhance access and engagement in pediatric telerehabilitation.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesFamilies and therapists proposed a pre-session phone call to build rapport and clarify expectations before virtual visits. They suggested summarizing next steps at the end of sessions and tailoring follow-up information to avoid overwhelming parents with generic resources.
• PTOTSLPOther2023A commentary on the healthcare transition policy landscape for youth with disabilities or chronic health conditions, the need for an inclusive and equitable approach, and recommendations for change in Canada.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesYouth with disabilities and clinicians recommend flexible age limits for transfer to adult care, rather than a fixed cutoff. They advise starting transition planning years early and including social and educational supports, not just medical ones.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2023Understanding and Supporting Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in the Primary School Classroom: Perspectives of Children with ADHD and their Teachers.Journal of autism and developmental disordersChildren with ADHD often cannot explain their own diagnosis, describing it only as trouble concentrating. Teachers knew the symptoms but missed the cognitive reasons behind them. Both groups relied on visual aids and movement, yet children hid fidgeting strategies from staff.
• PTOTSLPOther2023Effects of Intersectionality Along the Pathway to Diagnosis for Autistic Children With and Without Co-occurring Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in a Nationally-Representative Sample.Journal of autism and developmental disordersBlack non-Hispanic children received ASD diagnoses 10 months later than White non-Hispanic children. Co-occurring depression delayed diagnosis by 13.5 months, while behavioral problems sped it up by 18 months. Wait times averaged two years regardless of whether ADHD was also present.
• PTOther2024Factors influencing caregiver buy-in to early intervention physical therapy.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineCaregivers and therapists described buy-in as growing when therapists built rapport, explained why activities mattered, fit them into daily routines, and pointed out small progress. This study reports perceptions, not child outcomes.
• PTOTPilot2023A Remotely Delivered Yoga Intervention for Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Feasibility and Effectiveness for Improving Skills Related to Physical Activity.Journal of autism and developmental disordersA 12-week remote yoga program improved leg strength, flexibility, and balance in adolescents with autism, but daily physical activity measured by sensors actually decreased. The study lacked a control group, so these changes cannot be attributed to the yoga alone.
• PTCohort2024Quality of Life in Children With Achondroplasia Undergoing Paired Limb Lengthening With an External Fixator and Modified Distraction Control: Observational Nonrandomized Study.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesChildren with a rod fixator reported less pain and a smaller drop in physical activity and mood early after limb lengthening. By 6 and 18 months, both fixator groups reported similar quality of life.
• PTQualitative2024Consumer Perceptions of Home-Based Percussive Massage Therapy for Musculoskeletal Concerns: Inductive Thematic Qualitative Analysis.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesSome consumers buying a best-selling massage gun on Amazon reported using it for aches, chronic pain, injury and recovery, valuing affordability and adjustable attachments. They also reported defects, intensity problems, and ignoring the 10 minute automatic shutdown. These are consumer perceptions, not evidence it works.
• PTOTPilot2024Validity and Reliability of a Telehealth Physical Fitness and Functional Assessment Battery for Ambulatory Youth With and Without Mobility Disabilities: Observational Measurement Study.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesHand grip, sit-to-stand, and timed walk tests matched in-person scores closely when done via video. The home-modified six-minute walk did not match in-person distances and should not be compared to them. No falls occurred.
• PTOTSLPCohort2023Social-Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties in Children with Neurodevelopmental Disorders: Emotion Perception in Daily Life and in a Formal Assessment Context.Journal of autism and developmental disordersChildren with ASD, ADHD, and DLD showed similar delays in emotion discrimination and high rates of behavioural problems. Poor voice tone discrimination was linked to having no friends, affecting 32% of the clinical group. These difficulties appeared regardless of specific diagnosis.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2024Social support needs of caregivers rearing children with severe motor and intellectual disabilities at home in Japan.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesCaregivers of children with severe motor and intellectual disabilities most urgently need more places to leave their children for care. They also asked for help with medical tasks at home, support for siblings, and plans for when the caregivers themselves grow old.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024Distinct Neurodevelopmental Trajectories in Groups of Very Preterm Children Screening Positively for Autism Spectrum Conditions.Journal of autism and developmental disordersVery preterm toddlers who failed two or more critical M-CHAT items had smaller brainstem and cerebellar volumes at term-equivalent age and more autism traits at age 4-7 than those who screened negative. The critical positive group also showed the most severe developmental delay.
• PTOTOther2024Defining a universal measurement unit and scale for gross motor development.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesA new theoretical scale places gross motor tasks on a universal 0-100 unit scale, anchored from supine to walking. It explains 87% of task difficulty variance using body position, movement, and support, but remains unvalidated in typical children.
• PTOTSLPCohort2023Assessing Prevalence and Characteristics of Oro-bulbar Involvement in Children and Adults with SMA Type 2 and 3 Using a Multimodal Approach.DysphagiaOro-bulbar impairment is common in SMA types 2 and 3, particularly reduced mouth opening and tongue strength in children and non-ambulant adults. Objective tests often reveal problems that patients do not report, so clinicians should assess swallowing function directly rather than relying on patient complaints.
• PTOTSLPOther2024Examining the Outcomes of Project ECHO® as an Interprofessional Community of Practice for Pediatric Feeding Clinicians.DysphagiaClinicians working with pediatric feeding disorders reported significantly higher confidence after joining a virtual case-based learning network. The program was highly rated for its practical, interactive format, which participants preferred over traditional lectures. Fewer requests for external clinical advice were observed during the program period.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2024Parent-Therapist Partnership Survey: Parent Feedback and Psychometric Properties.Journal of autism and developmental disordersParents of children receiving school-based therapies rated needs in two areas: being informed and empowered as team members, and needing support and guidance. A 36-item survey can ask these needs directly. It does not show that using it improves child or family outcomes.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2024Digital tools for direct assessment of autism risk during early childhood: A systematic review.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceDigital tablet and smartphone tasks measuring social preference and motor movements consistently distinguished autistic children from typical peers in 38 pilot studies. These tools are brief and automated, but none are validated for clinical screening yet.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2024The Relationship Between Nutrition-Physical Activity Behaviors of Autistic Children with Their Families and Children's Obesity Levels During Covid Pandemic.Journal of autism and developmental disordersParents of children with severe autism reported lower family nutrition and activity scores than those with atypical autism. Regularly monitoring the child's height and weight was linked to higher scores. However, neither family habits nor mealtime behaviors correlated with the children's actual BMI before or during the pandemic.
• PTOTSLPOther2024Latent Class Analysis Identifies Distinctive Behavioral Subtypes in Children with Fragile X Syndrome.Journal of autism and developmental disordersChildren with fragile X syndrome fall into five distinct behavioral groups. Three moderate-severity groups differ clearly: one with high anxiety and social avoidance, one with disruptive behaviors, and one with attention issues but less social impairment. This helps target support.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2024REhabilitation Approaches in CHildren with cerebellar mutism syndrome (REACH): An international cross-disciplinary survey study.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineMost therapists treating children with cerebellar mutism syndrome lack specific clinical guidelines and rely on symptom-based approaches borrowed from other conditions. They report significant barriers including fatigue, behavioral impacts of cancer therapy, and insufficient resources for training and standardized care.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2024Mental health in children with disabilities and their families: red flags, services' impact, facilitators, barriers, and proposed solutions.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesCaregivers and clinicians identified red flags like school isolation and sleep changes. System barriers, especially waitlists, drove negative experiences. Both groups urged family-centered care, standardized mental health training for all disciplines, and decoupling mental health support from disability diagnoses.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2024Autism Spectrum Disorder in Down Syndrome: Experiences from Caregivers.Journal of autism and developmental disordersCaregivers of children with Down syndrome and autism noticed differences at an average age of 3.87 years, but diagnosis came at an average age of 8.52 years, a 4.65-year gap. Many said providers and therapists lacked DS-ASD knowledge.
• PTOTNarrative Review2024Emerging methods for measuring physical activity using accelerometry in children and adolescents with neuromotor disorders: a narrative review.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationStandard step-counters and cut-point analyses often misclassify activity in children with cerebral palsy or brain injury. Combining participation questionnaires with raw accelerometer data, ideally using machine learning tailored to the child's mobility level, provides a more accurate picture of their real-world activity than commercial devices alone.
• PTOther2024Clinical outcomes measurement in pediatric lower limb prosthetics: A scoping review.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicine41 pediatric lower-limb prosthetic studies used 44 outcome measures, but only 5 had published evidence of accuracy or consistency in these children. No measure showed it can detect change.
• PTOTCohort2024Increased muscle responses to balance perturbations in children with cerebral palsy can be explained by increased sensitivity to center of mass movement.Gait & postureChildren with cerebral palsy react to balance perturbations with much stronger muscle activation than typically developing peers. Their nervous systems are hypersensitive to body movement, causing stiff, co-contracted responses that make them step to avoid falling even at low speeds.
• PTCase-Control2023Sagittal trunk excursion and lumbar repositioning error between female and male patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome.Hong Kong physiotherapy journal : official publication of the Hong Kong Physiotherapy Association Limited = Wu li chih liaoPeople with and without PFPS did not differ in trunk movement during mini-squats or in lumbar repositioning error. Females with PFPS showed less trunk movement than males with PFPS.
• PTOTSLPCohort2023Early Moderate to Vigorous Physical Activity After Concussion Is Associated With Faster Symptom Resolution Time.Journal of sport rehabilitationAdolescents recovering from concussion who engaged in more than 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity daily resolved symptoms faster than those who did less. This association persisted even after adjusting for initial symptom severity and sex.
• PTRCT2023Effects and safety of hypertonic saline combined with airway clearance in non-hospitalized children with recurrent wheezing.Hong Kong physiotherapy journal : official publication of the Hong Kong Physiotherapy Association Limited = Wu li chih liaoAdding 3% hypertonic saline to airway clearance did not improve outcomes more than 0.9% saline. However, both groups saw immediate symptom relief and fewer hospitalizations and school absences over three months compared to the prior three months.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2024The Well-being and Support Needs of Australian Caregivers of Neurodiverse Children.Journal of autism and developmental disordersCaregivers of neurodiverse children reported clinically significant stress and lower well-being than national averages. They identified major unmet needs for respite, support groups, and funding, with many facing financial hardship and social isolation due to stigma and lack of accessible services.
• PTOther2023Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on a Clinical Trial: A Quantitative Report on Study Engagement and Strategies.Pediatric physical therapy : the official publication of the Section on Pediatrics of the American Physical Therapy AssociationDuring peak pandemic, enrollment fell, retention worsened, and 36 in-person outcome measures were missed. Telehealth intervention visits were largely completed, but telehealth did not replace assessments requiring hands-on testing.