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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 26 OF 39 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTOTSLPCohort2024Normative values to Horus® computerized posturography in children.CoDASNormative values for the Horus posturography platform in 4-6 year olds show that balance improves with age. Four-year-old boys have lower stability limits than girls. Clinicians must use age and sex-specific benchmarks to interpret results, as adult or generic norms are not applicable.
• PTOTSLPOther2024A usability study on the inGAIT-VSO: effects of a variable-stiffness ankle-foot orthosis on the walking performance of children with cerebral palsy.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationIn six children with cerebral palsy, a variable-stiffness ankle orthosis significantly lowered the physiological cost of walking by 45.26% without reducing distance walked. It did not improve speed or balance. Usability was rated good or excellent by five of six participants.
• PTPilot2024PedBotLab: A Novel Video Game-Based Robotic Ankle Platform Created for Therapeutic Exercise for Children With Neurological Impairments.Physical & occupational therapy in pediatricsChildren with neurological conditions improved ankle range and strength after playing video games on a robotic platform, but walking speed did not change. The small sample size means these gains are promising but not proven.
• PTSurvey2024Perceived factors and barriers affecting physiotherapists' decision to use spinal manipulation and mobilisation among infants, children, and adolescents: an international survey.The Journal of manual & manipulative therapyExpert physiotherapists said they decide on paediatric spinal techniques by patient presentation, handling tolerance, diagnosis, mechanism of injury and their own technique knowledge. For infants, many saw manipulation as inappropriate; barriers included training, mentorship, consent and fear of harm.
• PTOTSLPOther2024Global, Regional, and National Burdens of Hearing Loss for Children and Adolescents from 1990 to 2019: A Trend Analysis.Trends in hearingGlobal hearing loss in children dropped slightly from 1990 to 2019, but mild cases rose. Adolescent girls aged 15-19 saw a significant increase in moderate hearing loss, driven by noise exposure and ear infections, requiring targeted prevention.
• PTOTSLPOther2024Risk factors and hearing outcomes in infants and young children in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.The South African journal of communication disorders = Die Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir KommunikasieafwykingsRecurrent ear infections and HIV were the most common risks in this South African cohort, appearing in 43% and 16% of files. The standard US screening list missed these local drivers, meaning risk checks must be adapted to the region to catch preventable hearing loss.
• PTCohort2024Objective measurement of movement variability using wearable sensors predicts ASD outcomes in infants at high likelihood for ASD and ADHD.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchLower ankle movement variability was associated with later ASD at 18, 24, and 36 months in a family-risk cohort. It added prediction beyond family history but did not separate ASD from ADHD concerns or predict ADHD.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024Categorizing and identifying preferred interests in autistic toddlers.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchAutistic toddlers were more likely to have parent-reported preferred interests than peers with delays or no diagnosis. However, the specific types of interests did not differ between groups. Clinicians should assess how intensely a child engages with an interest, not just what the interest is.
• PTOTCohort2024Early Play Behaviors of Infants at Elevated Likelihood for Autism Spectrum Disorder.The American journal of occupational therapy : official publication of the American Occupational Therapy AssociationSix-month-old infants later diagnosed with autism had lower overall play scores than those who were not. Atypical movement patterns did not differ between the groups, though asymmetrical reflexes were seen in more infants with autism. This pilot suggests play quality may offer early clues.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024Genetic and phenotypic heterogeneity in early neurodevelopmental traits in the Norwegian Mother, Father and Child Cohort Study.Molecular autismEarly difficulties in social and communication skills at age three were associated with receiving a diagnosis of almost all neurodevelopmental conditions later in childhood. These traits were not neatly aligned with specific diagnoses, suggesting broad developmental challenges predict diverse outcomes.
• PTOTOther2024Robotic assessment of bilateral and unilateral upper limb functions in adults with cerebral palsy.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationAdults with mild to moderate cerebral palsy were most often impaired on a robotic bilateral asymmetric hitting task, even when their everyday object handling was rated as mild. Symmetric and unilateral reaching tasks identified fewer impairments.
• PTOTOther2024Assessing proprioception in children with upper motor neuron lesions: feasibility, validity, and reliability of the proprioception measurement tool.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesA new sensor-based tool can reliably measure lower limb proprioception in children with upper motor neuron lesions. It distinguishes these children from typically developing peers, though the joint movement sense component is less precise than position sense.
• PTRCT2024Inspiratory muscle training in children with neuromuscular disorders.The South African journal of physiotherapyRespiratory infections and hospital stays did not differ between training and no-training periods, and no serious problems were linked to training. Strength and cough ability improved during training compared with no training, but lung volume and flow measures did not change.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024Neurological examination of healthy term infants at ages 6 and 10 weeks in Tshwane District.The South African journal of physiotherapyHealthy infants in South Africa showed rapid neurological maturation between 6 and 10 weeks, including better head control and visual tracking. Most scored within normal ranges on the Hammersmith exam, providing local benchmark data to help identify early developmental risks.
• PTQualitative2024Peer support as pressure ulcer prevention strategy in special school learners with paraplegia.The South African journal of physiotherapyLearners with paraplegia in a special school identified peer support as a key strategy to prevent pressure ulcers. They proposed structured groups led by experienced peers, supported by physiotherapists, to share self-care skills and counter negative peer pressure.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024Identifying Children and Adolescents at Elevated Mental Health Risk Before and During COVID-19.Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBPAdolescent girls showed the largest increase in mental health risk during the pandemic. Global risk rose significantly in this group, driven by internalizing and attention symptoms. Screening at once-yearly visits may underestimate risk if conducted in summer.
• PTCohort2024Lower-Quarter Y-Balance Test Differs by Age: Younger Athletes May Not Be Generalized to High School-Aged Counterparts.International journal of sports physical therapyYounger athletes aged 8 to 10 showed greater anterior reach than older teens on the Y-Balance Test. This contradicts the assumption that performance improves with age. Do not apply standard high school normative values to pre-adolescent patients during return-to-play screening.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2024Parents' and carers' attitudes to the use of digital technology and its role in the care of children with complex needs.The British journal of occupational therapyParents of children with complex needs use smartphones and tablets daily to find information, communicate with services, and support therapy. They want digital tools to supplement face-to-face care, not replace it, citing concerns about losing personal contact and data security.
• PTCohort2024Physical activity and functional limitations in pediatric multiple sclerosis: Are fatigue and depression confounding variables?Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineHigher moderate-to-vigorous physical activity was linked to better perceived function in youth with multiple sclerosis. This link remained significant even when accounting for fatigue and depression. Depression was also independently associated with worse function, while fatigue was not.
• PTOTCohort2024Psychological predictors of performance-based physical functioning among pediatric pain program participants.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineYouth in a four-week pain program improved on treadmill endurance and gross motor tests. Baseline depression predicted worse endurance and catastrophizing predicted worse motor skills, but neither predicted outcomes after treatment.
• PTOTPilot2024The IndieTrainer system: a small-scale trial exploring a new approach to support powered mobility skill acquisition in children.Disability and rehabilitation. Assistive technologyChildren with severe mobility limitations using a device that turns their manual wheelchair into a power trainer showed significant gains in understanding and executing power wheelchair skills. Parents reported high satisfaction. However, without a control group, it is unclear if the device itself caused these improvements.
• PTOther2024Clinical assessment, treatment, and referral trends for adolescent runners seeking care at an injured runners' clinic.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineAdolescent runners with shin injuries received the most clinical resources, including imaging, referrals, and supplements. Care shifted over ten years toward nutrition and gait training, reflecting updated consensus on Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport, while manual tests remained the primary diagnostic tool.
• PTOTOther2024Assessment of mental health and quality of life among children with congenital heart disease.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineChildren with congenital heart disease had more mood and anxiety disorders than healthy comparison children, and cyanotic children had the lowest quality-of-life scores. The study compares groups. It does not show that treatment works.
• PTOTSystematic Review2025Barriers and facilitators to parent-delivered interventions for children with or infants at risk of cerebral palsy. An integrative review informed by behaviour change theory.Disability and rehabilitationParents delivering home therapy for children with or at risk of cerebral palsy often felt underprepared, time pressed, and emotionally strained. Clear knowledge, coaching for skills, realistic goals, flexible home programmes, family support, and stable therapist relationships were described as facilitating delivery.
• PTNarrative Review2024Quantitative Musculoskeletal Imaging of the Pediatric Shoulder.American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitationQuantitative imaging of children's shoulders is mostly used for brachial plexus birth palsy, but adult norms do not fit growing shoulders. Anatomically reformatted imaging can change reported glenoid version and humeral head position, so standard readings may misclassify.
• PTOTPilot2024The feasibility and acceptability of integrating dogs into inpatient rehabilitation therapy with children with acquired brain injury.PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitationDogs were feasible to add to inpatient PT/OT for 16 children with acquired brain injury: dogs attended 56 of 59 PT and 55 of 59 OT dog sessions, with no adverse events and high satisfaction from families and therapists.
• PTOTCase-Control2024Elevated blood pressure in children with cerebral palsy and its relationship with adiposity and physical activity.Disability and health journalChildren with cerebral palsy had higher diastolic blood pressure than matched typically developing peers. This elevation was linked to visceral fat, not body mass index or physical activity levels. Standard BMI screening may miss this risk, suggesting blood pressure checks are vital for this group.
• PTOTRCT2024Feasibility of a home-based home videogaming intervention with a family-centered approach for children with cerebral palsy: a randomized multiple baseline single-case experimental design.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationEleven children improved on at least one chosen upper-limb daily activity after an 8-week home program that included videogame play, weekly monitoring calls and family goal setting. Only three of 13 met their weekly active playtime goal for six weeks.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024Incidence and outcomes of pediatric patients with dual diagnosis of traumatic spinal cord injury and brain injury on an inpatient rehabilitation unit.PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitationPediatric patients with spinal cord injury and suspected brain injury showed no significant difference in functional recovery compared to those with spinal injury alone. However, agitation and attention problems appeared only in the suspected brain injury group, suggesting these symptoms may signal an undiagnosed concurrent condition.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Socioeconomic factors in inflicted traumatic brain injury: Examining the area deprivation index.Rehabilitation psychologyIn children with inflicted brain injury, a neighborhood deprivation index did not predict death, intensive care stay, or follow-up visits. Hispanic/Latino children lived in more deprived neighborhoods. Older children were more likely to die, stay longer in intensive care, and have fewer visits.
• PTOTCase Report2024"Virtual reality fixed me": A case report of the use of virtual reality during intensive interdisciplinary pain treatment.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineA child in intensive interdisciplinary pain treatment described virtual reality as helping her move, reduce pain focus, and feel safe. Therapists observed improvements, but this is a single person, not proof virtual reality works.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2024Exploring the perspectives of health care professionals on digital health technologies in pediatric care and rehabilitation.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationClinicians planning to use more digital tools valued their patient benefits but worried they might harm the therapeutic relationship. Ease of use predicted successful adoption, while lack of training and poor infrastructure predicted failure. Barriers differed by technology type.
• PTOTOther2024Cortical activity during online motor control in children with and without developmental coordination disorder: a cross-sectional functional near-infrared spectroscopy study.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationChildren with DCD took significantly longer to correct reaching movements when a target shifted. They showed less brain activation in the left superior parietal cortex during these corrections. This reduced activation correlated with their slower movement times, suggesting a difficulty processing real-time sensory feedback.
• PTOTCase Report2024A confounding pediatric spinal cord injury: Anterior, central, or both?Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineA two-year-old with a cervical spinal cord injury recovered distal arm function before proximal strength. This atypical pattern, combined with conflicting imaging and clinical signs, makes standard adult prognostic models unreliable for predicting long-term recovery in young children.
• PTOTCohort2024Does diagnosis matter? Evaluating impact of pediatric chronic pain diagnosis on pain and function.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineChildren with chronic pain improved in pain and function after an interdisciplinary program, regardless of diagnosis. Most baseline differences between pain types disappeared by discharge, though those with widespread pain continued to show more emotional impairment.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2024Autism in Preschool-Aged Children: The Effects of COVID-19 Lockdown.Journal of autism and developmental disordersPreschoolers with autism struggled far more with remote learning and showed worsening behaviors during lockdown, with 43% of parents reporting symptom deterioration. Typically developing children managed better, though all groups lost physical activity and sleep routine.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Prevalence and Characteristics of Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder in the New York-New Jersey Metropolitan Area.Journal of autism and developmental disordersIn a diverse metropolitan area, 17.7 per 1,000 adolescents had autism. Prevalence was twice as high in high-income areas compared to low-income areas, and one in four cases remained undiagnosed by age 16.
• PTOTSLPOther2024A Longitudinal Mixed-Methods Characterization of Family Support from Adolescence to Young Adulthood in Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAs autistic youth reach adulthood, family support remains the most helpful and valued resource, while formal professional support declines significantly. Caregivers shift from needing practical help to valuing emotional partnership and dependability. Clinicians should prioritize assessing family networks, not just clinical services.
• PTOTSLPOther2024Expectations for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders or Intellectual Disabilities in Ghana: A Comparison Between Service Providers and Parents.Journal of autism and developmental disordersParents expect children with autism or intellectual disability to achieve independence more than teachers and healthcare providers do. Providers rated independence as highly important but doubted it would happen. Aligning these expectations is crucial to avoid conflicting care goals.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2024Participation and Experiences in Extracurricular Activities for Autistic and Neurotypical Children.Journal of autism and developmental disordersParents of autistic children reported similar interest in extracurricular activities as neurotypical parents, but their children participated in fewer activities. Barriers were not just child behavior, but included program structure and social attitudes, suggesting inclusive design is key.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024Digital technologies for pediatric rehabilitation: current access and use in the European Rehatech4child survey.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineMost European rehabilitation professionals use digital technologies for children, but access is the main barrier. Those with easier access used them far more frequently. Lack of funding and training were top concerns, while children's motivation was not.
• PTOTCohort2024Acceptability, validity and responsiveness of inertial measurement units for assessing motor recovery after gene therapy in infants with early onset spinal muscular atrophy: a prospective cohort study.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationWearable sensors on wrists, feet and elbows were tolerated during 25-minute tests in infants with SMA after gene therapy. Movement measures tracked motor scores and increased over 12 months, with elbow and foot sensors linked to unaided sitting.
• PTRCT2024Efficacy of virtual reality on balance impairment in ataxic cerebral palsy children: randomized controlled trial.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineIn 64 children with ataxic cerebral palsy, adding Wii balance-board virtual reality games to physical therapy improved balance more than physical therapy alone. Scores rose and sway fell, but children also had the same exercise program.
• PTOther2024A continuum of balance performance between children with developmental coordination disorder, spastic cerebral palsy, and typical development.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineChildren with DCD and CP scored lower on a balance test than typical-development peers, but profiles varied widely. DCD often fell between typical and CP, while some DCD and CP children looked alike in leaning and walking balance.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Motor Control Adherence to the Two-thirds Power Law Differs in Autistic Development.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAutistic children aged 4 to 8 showed steeper velocity changes when drawing curves on an iPad compared to typically developing peers. They also exhibited higher jerk, indicating less smooth movement. These kinematic differences did not correlate with overall fine motor scores.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2025Barriers to Healthcare for Latinx Autistic Children and Adolescents.Journal of autism and developmental disordersFor Latinx families with autistic children, cost barriers were highest among those with commercial insurance, while language barriers were highest among Spanish speakers. Spanish-speaking caregivers reported significant gaps in knowing services existed, digital access issues, and lower educational attainment compared to English speakers.
• PTOTOther2025Effects of Horseback Riding on the Postural Control of Autistic Children: A Multiple Baseline Across-subjects Design.Journal of autism and developmental disordersNine autistic children showed reduced sway on a balance platform after horseback riding. The improvement was large on a soft surface and moderate on a hard one. However, their post-ride scores remained far above typical values for their age.
• PTOTSLPOther2024Neurological assessment tool for screening infants during the first year after birth: The Brief-Hammersmith Infant Neurological Examination.Developmental medicine and child neurologyA shortened neurological exam for infants detected cerebral palsy with high accuracy in a retrospective study. Scores below specific age-based cut-offs identified most infants who later developed CP, supporting its use as a quick screening tool to trigger full examination.
• PTCohort2024Use of primary health care services among children and adolescents with cerebral palsy.Developmental medicine and child neurologyChildren with cerebral palsy used general practitioner and urgent care services more often than children without cerebral palsy. The higher use was seen even when motor impairment was mild. Many visits were coded as general or unspecified conditions, so reasons for contact were unclear.
• PTOTSLPOther2025Validating the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health Core Sets for Autism in a Sample of Australian School-Aged Children on the Spectrum.Journal of autism and developmental disordersCaregiver ratings matched autism core sets for attention and social tasks, but missed key facilitators like assets and motivation. Many ICF terms were unclear to parents, requiring simplified definitions before clinical use.