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 24 OF 39 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTOther2024Analysis of a model for pediatric physical therapy and clinical education via telehealth.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineAll 11 children improved in at least one motor goal during telehealth physical therapy. Students and caregivers reported high feasibility and acceptance, though lack of hands-on contact and connectivity issues remained significant barriers to assessment.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024Sleep Problems, Circadian Rhythms, and Their Relation to Behavioral Difficulties in Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder.Journal of autism and developmental disordersIn children with autism, objective measures showed that poor sleep and unstable daily rhythms were linked to higher anxiety, aggression, and self-injury. Treating sleep fragmentation may help manage behavioral difficulties, though this study cannot prove cause.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2024Resilience and adolescence-transition in youth with developmental disabilities and their families: a scoping review.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesResilience in teens with neurodevelopmental disabilities relies on emotional regulation, social competence, and family support. Current interventions target these but miss key factors like self-advocacy and caregiver well-being. Online and group formats may improve accessibility.
• PTOTSLPCase-Control2023Biomarkers of tic severity in children with Tourette syndrome: Motor cortex inhibition measured with transcranial magnetic stimulation.Developmental medicine and child neurologyTourette syndrome children did not show different brain inhibition compared to typically developing peers. However, within the Tourette group, worse tics linked to lower inhibition in the motor cortex. This suggests motor cortex activity reflects tic severity, not just the diagnosis.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2024Autism community priorities in diverse low-resource settings: A country-wide scoping exercise in India.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceIndian autism families ranked self-help skills as the top priority for training and speech and language therapy as the most needed intervention. Mental health counselling was second, but parents sought it for themselves rather than their children.
• PTNarrative Review2023Academy of Plant-based Physical Therapy: overdue to address a nutrition crisis with a transformative population approach.Journal of physical therapy scienceNo original study results are reported. This paper proposes a plant-based physical therapy specialty.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024Opioid prescription patterns among commercially insured children with and without cerebral palsy.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineChildren with cerebral palsy were prescribed opioids more often and for more days than peers without CP. Median supply was 7 to 8 days annually. This pattern suggests acute pain management rather than chronic use, though overall exposure rates remain higher in the CP group.
• PTOTPilot2024Non-immersive virtual reality based treatment for children with unilateral cerebral palsy: Preliminary results.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineSix children with unilateral cerebral palsy accepted a non-immersive virtual reality upper-limb programme; some found it boring or tiring. Motor scores and daily hand use improved, but no control group means the VR treatment cannot be shown to cause the gains.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2023Community-based physical activity interventions for adolescents and adults with complex cerebral palsy: A scoping review.Developmental medicine and child neurologyCommunity exercise is safe for people with severe cerebral palsy. Across 17 studies, serious injuries were rare and dropouts low. Most pain or fatigue was minor and resolved quickly, suggesting therapists can confidently prescribe activity in community settings.
• PTSLPSurvey2024Predictors of Access to Early Support in Families of Children with Suspected or Diagnosed Developmental Disabilities in the United Kingdom.Journal of autism and developmental disordersFamilies of children with a developmental disability diagnosis were more likely to access interventions, but those without a degree were less likely. Higher family economic deprivation and having only one caregiver predicted more unmet support needs. Access often depended on formal identification rather than need alone.
• PTOTSLPRCT2024Using Pivotal Response Treatment to Improve Language Functions of Autistic Children in Special Schools: A Randomized Controlled Trial.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAdding Pivotal Response Treatment motivational strategies to standard language therapy helped autistic children with intellectual disabilities improve requesting, labeling, repeating, and listening. These gains held up three weeks later and appeared in new settings, unlike standard therapy alone.
• PTOTCohort2024Are tactile function and body awareness of the foot related to motor outcomes in children with upper motor neuron lesions?Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesAssessing how well children with upper motor neuron lesions can locate touch on a foot diagram, rather than on their own foot, correlated with their walking ability and motor control. Simple touch threshold tests did not relate to motor outcomes.
• PTOTSLPOther2023Comparison between the socio-educational profiles of children with verbal and non-verbal Autism Spectrum Disorder.CoDASChildren with verbal autism scored higher than those with non-verbal autism across all seven developmental areas, including imitation, perception, motor skills, and cognition. Age differences between the groups likely influenced these results, so the gap may not be due to language alone.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024School participation among young people with craniofacial microsomia and other childhood-onset disabilities.Developmental medicine and child neurologyFor children with craniofacial microsomia or other disabilities, school environmental support and fewer physical problems linked to better participation. Caregiver strategies amplified the link between support and attendance, but not involvement. Behavioral problems showed no direct effect.
• PTOTCohort2024Physiotherapeutic Scoliosis-Specific Exercises (PSSE-Schroth) can reduce the risk for progression during early growth in curves below 25°: prospective control study.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineAdolescents with mild scoliosis who did specific exercises five times a week had a 12.9% progression rate and 9.8% brace need, compared to 74.1% progression and 67.2% brace need in controls. Compliance was key: fully compliant patients had only 7.7% progression.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2024Exploring the sexual experiences and challenges of individuals with cerebral palsy.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineMost adults with cerebral palsy in this survey had sexual experience, but positioning difficulty and pain were common barriers. Participants reported that healthcare providers rarely discuss sexuality, despite a strong desire for body-positive guidance and practical solutions.
• PTOther2023HipScreen mobile app for the measurement of hip migration percentage in children with cerebral palsy: Accuracy, reliability, and discriminatory ability.Developmental medicine and child neurologyTrained users measured hip displacement risk in children with cerebral palsy with an average error of 5.72% versus an expert measurement, but the app correctly cleared only 66% of hips not above the 30% referral threshold.
• PTSurvey2023Higher Levels of Income and Education are Associated with More Specialized Sport Participation Behaviors: Results from a Representative Sample of Youth Sport Parents from the United States.International journal of sports physical therapyHigher-income and more-educated parents were more likely to report specialized youth sport behaviors such as club teams, multiple teams, and single-sport play. Not every behavior differed, and the survey cannot prove causes.
• PTOther2024Ready, Set, Move! Tracking Children's Modified Ride-On Car Use With a Custom Data Logger.Pediatric physical therapy : the official publication of the Section on Pediatrics of the American Physical Therapy AssociationA custom low-cost logger successfully tracked modified ride-on car use for 12 months in 14 children. Use was often short and seasonal, averaging once weekly, and 66% of bouts lasted 1-10 minutes.
• PTOTSLPCohort2023Prevalence and trends for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children living with cerebral palsy: A birds-eye view.Developmental medicine and child neurologyMost Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children with cerebral palsy live in urban or regional areas, but one in five are in remote locations. Birth prevalence declined recently, though not significantly, while preterm rates remained stable. This data supports culturally safe, accessible services in both city and remote settings.
• PTOTSLPOther2024Validating the Communication and Symbolic Behavior Scales-Developmental Profile Infant-Toddler Checklist (CSBS-DP ITC) Beyond Infancy in the CDKL5 Deficiency Disorder.Journal of autism and developmental disordersThe CSBS-DP ITC accurately distinguishes children with CDKL5 deficiency disorder by communication and motor abilities, but scores cluster at the bottom. Use the total score, not the three subscales, and expect limited sensitivity to small changes.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2024Leisure, Employment, Community Participation, and Quality of Life in Primary Caregivers of Autistic Children: A Qualitative Study.Journal of autism and developmental disordersMothers of autistic school-aged children described their quality of life as limited by the constant need to manage therapies, funding, and school crises. They identified employment and respite as key to reclaiming time, but navigating services often added to their workload.
• PTOTCase Series2024Utilizing combination intrathecal baclofen and analgesic medication to manage spasticity and pain in patients with pediatric-onset disability: Case series.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineAfter bupivacaine, morphine, or clonidine were added to intrathecal baclofen in patients with severe pediatric-onset spasticity and pain, families reported improvements in spasticity, pain, function, and quality of life. This is a case series, not evidence that the combination works.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2024Trajectory research in children with an autism diagnosis: A scoping review.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceThis review maps how autism research tracks child development over time. It found inconsistent methods and sample sizes, with many studies failing to report results by child age. This makes it hard to compare findings or determine what typical developmental paths look like for specific outcomes.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2024Community perspectives on the appropriateness and importance of support goals for young autistic children.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic adults, parents and professionals in New Zealand and Australia agreed that supporting the adults around the child, reducing harmful behaviours and improving quality of life were the top priorities for young autistic children. Goals targeting autism characteristics, play and participation were rated lowest priority, with autistic adults finding many of these inappropriate.
• PTCohort2023Which Tests Predict 6-Month Isokinetic Quadriceps Strength After ACL Reconstruction? An Examination of Isometric Quadriceps Strength and Functional Tests at 3 Months.International journal of sports physical therapyThree-month isometric quadriceps strength predicted 36.6% of six-month isokinetic strength in adolescents after ACL reconstruction. The Y-Balance Test and step-down test were poor predictors. Clinicians should not rely on these functional tests as proxies for isolated quadriceps strength.
• PTOther2024Agreement Between the Gross Motor Ability Estimator-2 and the Gross Motor Ability Estimator-3 in Young Children With Cerebral Palsy.Pediatric physical therapy : the official publication of the Section on Pediatrics of the American Physical Therapy AssociationScores from the new smartphone app and the old desktop software matched closely in young children with cerebral palsy. Therapists can compare results across both systems without recalculating old scores, even for children with very low motor ability.
• PTSurvey2024Causation in cerebral palsy: Parental beliefs and associated emotions.Developmental medicine and child neurologyParents who thought lack of oxygen, brain damage or medical intervention during birth caused their child's CP were more likely to report anger and confusion. 92% said it was important to understand the cause.
• PTSurvey2023The mediating role of social support in promoting physical activity among children in South Africa.The South African journal of physiotherapyChildren who enjoy physical activity participate more, but this link depends heavily on encouragement from family and teachers. Family support had the strongest effect, followed by teacher support. Peer encouragement alone did not significantly drive participation when family and teacher support were present.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2024Alignment of Canada's COVID-19 policy response with barriers and facilitators for coping reported by caregivers of youth with developmental delays, disorders, and disabilities.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesCaregivers of youth with disabilities described pandemic coping barriers including lost routines, aggression, service gaps, and school disruption. Facilitators included stable routines, virtual therapy access, outdoor space, financial supports, and family/community help. Policies often failed to address these specific needs.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2024Implementing neurodevelopmental follow-up care for children with congenital heart disease: A scoping review with evidence mapping.Developmental medicine and child neurologyStructured neurodevelopmental follow-up for children with congenital heart disease is highly variable and often absent outside the USA. Where programmes exist, they improve access to therapies and parental satisfaction, but there is no evidence they improve long-term developmental outcomes.
• PTOTSLPPilot2024Using mobile health technology to assess childhood autism in low-resource community settings in India: An innovation to address the detection gap.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceA tablet app assessing social, sensory and motor tasks identified 78% of children correctly across autism, intellectual disability and typical development groups. It was feasible for non-specialists in homes, but did not separate autism from intellectual disability.
• PTOTSLPOther2024Bachmann-Bupp syndrome and treatment.Developmental medicine and child neurologyIn the first patient with Bachmann-Bupp syndrome, DFMO treatment led to hair regrowth within two months. By four months, the child began sitting unassisted and self-feeding. Follicular cysts stopped recurring in two treated patients. This is single-case evidence, not proof of efficacy.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2024School Attendance Problems Among Children with Neurodevelopmental Conditions One year Following the Start of the COVID-19 Pandemic.Journal of autism and developmental disordersFor children with autism or intellectual disability, school absence was driven by unmet needs and anxiety, not COVID-19. Positive parent-teacher relationships and predictable routines helped attendance. Parents reported lack of differentiated support as a major barrier.
• PTCase Report2023Reduction of thoraco-lumbar kyphosis results in the alleviation of low back pain in an adolescent basketball player: a Chiropractic Biophysics® (CBP®) case report.Journal of physical therapy scienceA 17-year-old basketball player reported pain dropping from 6/10 to 0/10 after four months of chiropractic care. The clinic measured a 12-degree reduction in spinal curvature. Because multiple techniques were used together, no single part can be credited.
• PTOTSLPCohort2023Early Sleep Differences in Young Infants with Autism Spectrum Disorder.Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBPInfants later diagnosed with autism slept less overall in their first six months, but their night-day sleep pattern matched typical peers. How much sleep they got did not predict later development. However, sleeping more at night predicted better fine motor and language skills.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024Fewer children with autism spectrum disorder with motor challenges receive physical and recreational therapies compared to standard therapies: A SPARK data set analysis.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceMost children with autism in this large US sample were at risk for motor impairment, but few received physical or recreational therapy compared to speech and occupational therapy. Even children with the most severe motor difficulties had far lower access to gross motor services than fine motor or sedentary therapies.
• PTSurvey2024Early Mobility and Crawling: Beliefs and Practices of Pediatric Physical Therapists in the United States.Pediatric physical therapy : the official publication of the Section on Pediatrics of the American Physical Therapy AssociationNearly all US pediatric PTs valued independent mobility, but most also valued hands-and-knees crawling and said they would train it or discourage other mobility, although the paper reports little evidence for specific crawling effects.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024Depressive symptoms and activity engagement in autistic adolescents and those with other developmental disabilities.Disability and health journalAutistic teens and those with other disabilities had more depressive symptoms and less activity engagement than peers. Sports linked to fewer symptoms, but the group showing the benefit depended on how depression was defined. No cause can be proven from this data.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024Using adaptive behavior scores to convey level of functioning in children with autism spectrum disorder: Evidence from the Study to Explore Early Development.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceCognitive scores alone misclassify support needs in autistic preschoolers. Twenty-five percent labeled low-functioning had no adaptive delays, while eight percent labeled high-functioning had significant socialization delays. Assess adaptive behavior directly to identify actual service needs.
• PTOther2024Reliability of the EasyAngle® for Assessing Hip Range of Motion in Healthy Children.International journal of sports physical therapyThe EasyAngle digital goniometer showed good to excellent reliability for measuring hip motion in healthy children aged 5 to 10. It is a viable alternative to manual goniometers for tracking range of motion in pediatric sports exams, provided clinicians follow a standardized protocol.
• PTCohort2024Efficacy of serial casting protocols in idiopathic toe-walking.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineAnkle motion improved with serial casting in children with idiopathic toe-walking. Weekly cast changes showed faster motion improvement in the first two weeks and by final cast removal than changes every two weeks, but toe-walking recurrence was similar.
• PTOTSLPOther2024Digital citizenship of children and youth with autism: Developing guidelines and strategies for caregivers and clinicians to support healthy use of screens.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceExperts and caregivers agreed on 64 strategies for managing screen time in autistic children, shifting focus from strict time limits to content quality and family values. They resolved conflicts by adding flexibility, such as using separate devices for learning only if financially feasible.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024An observational study of parental language during play and mealtime in toddlers at variable likelihood for autism.Journal of child languageParents spoke more and used more directives during play, while mealtime drew out more questions and descriptive adjectives. For toddlers at elevated likelihood for autism, parental language did not differ from lower-likelihood peers based on status alone, but varied with the child's specific skills.
• PTOTSLPOther2024Cerebral palsy pain instruments: Recommended tools for clinical research studies by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Cerebral Palsy Common Data Elements project.Developmental medicine and child neurologyFifteen pain assessment tools are recommended for children with cerebral palsy, but none are classified as core. Most tools target school-aged children who can self-report, leaving significant gaps for non-verbal patients and those with communication challenges.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024Attention and motor profiles in children with developmental coordination disorder: A neuropsychological and neuroimaging investigation.Developmental medicine and child neurologyChildren with developmental coordination disorder showed impaired attention, processing speed, and executive functioning regardless of motor severity or ADHD status. MRI scans linked poorer gross motor skills to reduced surface area in the left posterior cingulate and altered left corticospinal tract structure.
• PTOTPilot2024Promoting positive physical activity behaviours in children undergoing acute cancer treatment: feasibility of the CanMOVE intervention.Brazilian journal of physical therapyFamilies and staff found CanMOVE acceptable and feasible during acute paediatric cancer treatment. Recruitment was 96%, retention was 95%, no serious adverse events were reported, and average daily steps rose by 2980. Without a control group, this step increase cannot prove the program caused it.
• PTOther2024Factors associated with gait efficiency in children with cerebral palsy: association between gait abnormality and balance ability.Journal of physical therapy scienceMore heart beats per distance walked was linked to more visible gait abnormalities and poorer balance in children with cerebral palsy who walk without aids. Heel lift timing, knee position in swing, turning, and feet-together standing were the strongest markers.
• PTOther2023The Use of Methylphenidate During Inpatient Rehabilitation After Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury: Population Characteristics and Prescribing Patterns.The Journal of head trauma rehabilitationPrescribing methylphenidate in pediatric TBI rehab is highly variable, with an 18-fold difference in starting doses. Patients receiving it were generally older and had more severe injuries. This describes current practice patterns rather than proving the medication improves recovery.
• PTOther2024Sport-Specific AMCaMP: New Modular Tools for Measuring Adolescent Self-Confidence In Sport-Specific Movement.International journal of sports physical therapySeven sport-specific self-confidence questionnaires for adolescent athletes produced consistent scores, except swimming was less clear. They can supplement return-to-sport judgement, not act as a clearance test.