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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 30 OF 39 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTOTSLPCohort2025Prospective Characterisation of Age-Related Changes in Self-Injurious Behaviour in a Sample of Children With Global Developmental Delay Aged 2-12 Years.Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDRSelf-injurious behaviour is common and persistent in children with global developmental delay. While rates remain high overall, children with no or mild intellectual disability showed increased interference with daily life as they aged, suggesting a need for ongoing support into adolescence.
• PTOTOther2025The associations of body composition, fitness, and physical activity with balance in children: The Arkansas Active Kids study.Gait & postureHigher fat mass and waist circumference are linked to worse standing balance in children. However, greater leg strength, aerobic fitness, and participation in organized activities weaken this link. These factors may buffer the balance deficits associated with excess body mass.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2025Involvement of Fathers and Siblings in Home Rehabilitation Programmes of Children With Neuro-Developmental Delay: Insights From Rehabilitation Professionals in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.Child: care, health and developmentRehabilitation professionals in Zimbabwe identified fathers as providing essential emotional and financial support, while siblings offer companionship and play-based assistance. Cultural norms and work schedules were key barriers. These findings describe professional observations, not tested interventions.
• PTOTSLPPilot2025Comparison Between a State-of-the-Art Mechanical 3D Scoliosis Correction Protocol and the Schroth Exercise on Spinal Flexibility of Patients With Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis: A Randomized Controlled Trial.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationOne session of mechanical 3D correction increased body height but did not beat Schroth exercises for spinal flexibility. Both groups improved forward bending and rotation after treatment. Lateral bending improved only with the machine. The height gain likely reflects spinal unloading while lying down, not permanent correction.
• PTOTSLPOther2025Association Between Physical, Social, and Attitudinal Environments and Quality of Life in Adolescents With Cerebral Palsy: Insights From the SPARCLE Cross-Sectional Study.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationSupportive attitudes from teachers, therapists, and classmates were linked to better school quality of life. However, physical accessibility and home support showed no significant link to quality of life once pain, impairment, and parenting stress were considered.
• PTOTCohort2025Isokinetic Strength Profiles Among Youth after Medial Patellofemoral Ligament Reconstruction.International journal of sports physical therapyAt about seven months after knee ligament reconstruction, less than 65% of young patients reached the standard 90% strength symmetry in their quadriceps. Males consistently showed higher strength than females. Higher quadriceps strength was linked to better patient-reported function and quality of life.
• PTOTSLPPilot2025Visuomotor Integration Assessment Using Immersive Virtual Reality for Children With Cerebral Palsy: A Pilot Study.Child: care, health and developmentIn 12 children with cerebral palsy, immersive VR did not correlate with standard paper-and-pencil visuomotor scores. Children were less accurate in VR than on a touchscreen. Adding visual distractions consistently worsened eye tracking, while hand accuracy sometimes improved.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2025Caregiver-identified strengths in children attending their first neurodevelopmental assessment: Findings from the Sydney child development research registry and development of a child strengths checklist.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceCaregivers of children attending neurodevelopmental assessments identified an average of 2.8 strengths, ranging from cognitive and social skills to hobbies and character. Autistic children's caregivers more often cited cognitive strengths, while non-autistic caregivers more often cited social strengths.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Cognitive and Adaptive Functioning of CTNNB1 Syndrome Patients: A Comparison With Autism Spectrum Disorder and Cerebral Palsy.Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDRChildren with CTNNB1 syndrome performed worse than those with autism on non-verbal reasoning and daily living skills, but showed no significant group difference on overall adaptive functioning or verbal comprehension. Their profile is distinct, with relative verbal strengths and non-verbal deficits.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Comparative Analysis of Phenotypic and Genotypic Differences Between Individuals Affected by Regressive and Non-Regressive Autism: A Cross-Sectional Study.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchChildren with autism who lost skills showed lower IQ and daily living abilities than those who did not. Mental health scores were identical. Clinicians should anticipate greater cognitive and adaptive support needs for patients with a history of skill loss.
• PTOTSystematic Review2024Pediatric Performance-Based Outcome Measures for Upper Extremity Function: A Scoping Review and Linking to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health.Canadian journal of occupational therapy. Revue canadienne d'ergotherapieThirty-two performance-based tests for children's upper limb function were mapped to the ICF. Most assess body function and activity, with significant gaps in participation and personal factors. Clinicians should note these measures do not capture real-world engagement or environmental barriers.
• PTOTSLPOther2025The UK C-BiLLT: Validity and reliability of an online assessment of spoken language comprehension for children with severe motor disorders.International journal of language & communication disordersThe UK C-BiLLT accurately measures spoken language comprehension in children aged 18 months to 7.5 years. It is reliable for typical development and acceptable for children with severe motor disorders who use eye gaze or switches, though it may take up to an hour to complete.
• PTOther2025Compliance With the 24-h Movement Behaviours Guidelines Among Brazilian Toddlers.Child: care, health and developmentOnly 21% of Brazilian toddlers met all 24-hour activity, screen, and sleep guidelines. Nearly all met activity, but screen time was the main failure, with 1-year-old boys least compliant.
• PTOTCohort2025Children With Fragile X Syndrome Display a Switch Towards Fast Fibres in Their Recruitment Strategy During Gait.Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDRChildren with Fragile X Syndrome recruited fast-twitch muscle fibres more heavily than slow-twitch ones during walking, even when walking slower. This shift toward fatigue-prone fibres may explain their high fatigability and poor motor control, independent of gait speed.
• PTOTSystematic Review2025Digital play and rehabilitation for children and adolescents in hospitals, outpatient departments and rehabilitation centres: A scoping review.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineDigital play is widely used in pediatric rehabilitation, mostly for neurological conditions, but evidence for its effectiveness is weak. Most studies were small, feasibility trials with unvalidated outcomes. The field lacks rigorous data proving these interventions improve function.
• PTCase Report2025Gait abnormalities in children with FOXP1 syndrome: A case series.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineThree children with FOXP1 syndrome walked on their toes with extra knee flexion in stance. With casting, stiff insoles, botulinum toxin, physiotherapy, or orthoses, toe walking improved slightly; knee flexion and walking distance did not always change.
• PTOTCase Report2025Safety of cardiorespiratory and muscle fitness assessment in two children with leukemia during early chemotherapy.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineTwo children undergoing chemotherapy for leukemia safely completed maximal exercise and strength tests during early treatment. No adverse effects occurred, and the testing did not disrupt their treatment schedule. This suggests rigorous physiological assessment is feasible early in therapy, though sample size is too small to confirm benefits.
• PTOther2025Body balance on Horus® computerized posturography and body measurements in healthy children.CoDASIn healthy children aged 4 to 6 years, height, weight and BMI were linked to balance test results, but not consistently across ages. Record growth measures when interpreting pediatric balance testing.
• PTOTSLPOther2025Neurodevelopmental and Mental Health Outcomes in a National Clinical Sample of Youth With Sex Chromosome Trisomies Compared With Matched Controls.Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBP52.2% of youth with sex chromosome trisomies had a neurodevelopmental diagnosis, including speech and language and motor delays, and 13.7% had a mental health diagnosis, both more common than in matched controls.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Missed Early Intervention Opportunities for Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchOnly 15% of preschoolers with autism received early intervention services before age 2. The strongest predictor of timely access was an autism diagnosis before age 2, alongside higher socioeconomic status and low birth weight. Most children missed the critical window due to diagnostic delays.
• PTOTSLPRCT2025The moderating role of co-occurring attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder in social skills group training for autistic children and adolescents.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceKONTAKT social skills training helped most autistic adolescents and children without ADHD, but not children with co-occurring ADHD. In that subgroup, standard care alone produced higher response rates than the training.
• PTOTSLPCohort2026Moderate-to-Vigorous Physical Activity and Suicidal Ideation in Adolescents with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: the Mediating Effects of Mental Health.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAdolescents with ADHD who engaged in more moderate-to-vigorous physical activity reported lower suicidal ideation. This link was fully mediated by depression, anxiety, and resilience. Increasing physical activity may reduce suicidal thoughts by improving these mental health factors.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2025Benefits of horseback riding for neurotypical children and adolescents: a scoping review.CoDASHorse riding showed mixed results for neurotypical children. Two randomized trials found improved social competence, but non-randomized studies varied widely in cognitive and behavioral outcomes. Evidence quality was low, with most studies having moderate risk of bias.
• PTOTSLPCohort2026Associations of Down Syndrome with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Attention Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder Among Children and Adolescents.Journal of autism and developmental disordersChildren with Down syndrome were five times more likely to have autism and nearly two times more likely to have ADHD than children without it. Girls with Down syndrome showed a much stronger link to autism than boys did. These findings support routine screening for both conditions in this group.
• PTPilot2025Feasibility of Direct-Access Physical Therapy for Concussion Management in the Pediatric Emergency Department: A Pilot Implementation Study.Physical therapyIn a pediatric emergency department pilot, children seen by a physical therapist plus physician had higher parent satisfaction, better recall of discharge instructions, more prognostic documentation, and more concussion clinic referrals than physician alone. This is feasibility data, not proof of effectiveness.
• PTOTCohort2025The Intersection of Variability in Gross Motor Performance and Adaptive Behavior in Young Autistic Children: Combining Video Data Analysis and Standardized Assessments.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchRemote video analysis showed autistic children had high variability in walking and balance. More consistent walking speed linked to better adaptive behavior, but more consistent walking behaviors linked to worse adaptive behavior. Standardized test scores did not correlate with these video measures.
• PTCohort2025Social Determinants of Health and Quadriceps Strength Recovery in Children and Adolescents following Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction.International journal of sports physical therapyBlack or African American girls recovered significantly less quadriceps strength than boys or White patients after ACL reconstruction. Neighborhood deprivation indices lost their statistical significance once age and graft type were accounted for.
• PTSurvey2025A Cross-Sectional Examination of Movement Behaviours and Guideline Adherence Rates Among Preschool-Aged Children With Disabilities.Child: care, health and developmentCaregivers reported that only 23% of 31 children aged 4 years with disabilities met the physical activity guideline and 8% met the screen-time guideline, while 83% met the sleep guideline.
• PTOTSLPOther2024A Delphi Exploration of Toileting Activity Performance in Individuals With Cerebral Palsy Within the ICF-CY Framework: Unveiling Influential Factors.Occupational therapy internationalExperts agreed that caregiver awareness of a child's readiness and neuromusculoskeletal function are the top factors affecting toileting in cerebral palsy. They also highlighted the critical role of toilet environment, communication feedback, and cultural attitudes toward menstruation and hygiene.
• PTOTSLPCohort2026Chronic Physical Pain in Children With and Without Autism Spectrum Disorder in the United States: Findings from the 2016 - 2021 National Survey of Children's Health.Journal of autism and developmental disordersChildren with autism have higher rates of chronic pain and headaches than their peers, even after adjusting for other health conditions. This association holds across ages and regions, but pain severity or type did not link to autism severity or current treatments.
• PTCase Report2025Postoperative Rehabilitation Following Subscapularis Repair and Biceps Tenodesis in an Adolescent Overhead Athlete: A Resident's Case Report.International journal of sports physical therapyA 13-year-old quarterback and pitcher returned to throwing after surgical repair of a torn subscapularis and biceps tendon. Rehabilitation took 30 weeks and involved strict protection of the repairs, with coordination between the physical therapist and school athletic trainer.
• PTSLPSystematic Review2026Examining Behavioral Interventions for Infancy and Early Toddlerhood: A Systematic Review of Intervention Effects, Parameters, and Participants.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAcross 69 infant studies, contingent caregiver responses to baby sounds increased vocalizations in first-year studies. Tummy-time studies increased head lifting. Evidence was heterogeneous, and some randomized trials showed no effect.
• PTPilot2025Investigating Challenges in Implementing a Digital Play Intervention in a Complex Organization Across Pediatric Departments: Non-Randomized Controlled Feasibility Trial.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesHospitalized children were often too exhausted to use a digital play app, and staff lacked time to support it. The app was not feasible as designed; children's motivation was neither positive nor negative.
• PTOTCohort2025Bilateral hand use during infancy in very low birth weight infants.Journal of physical therapy scienceVery low birth weight infants under 1,000 g reached toy transfer later than infants with birth weight 1,000 to 1,499 g, with middle ages of 6.4 and 5.8 months. No clear difference was seen for playing with both hands together or grasping two toys.
• PTOTOther2025Focusing Attention to Improve Throwing Skills in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder: Exploring the Influence of Working Memory.Occupational therapy internationalFor boys aged 6 to 8 with autism, instructions to focus on their own body movements led to better long-term throwing accuracy than instructions to focus on the target. Working memory scores did not predict this learning.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2026"What My Son Needs Is Me. What I Need Is... Guidance": Caregiver Perspectives About Early Autism Supports Amid Changing Attitudes and Policies.Journal of autism and developmental disordersCaregivers valued supports that reduced their mental load and respected their child's identity over specific skill goals. They felt let down by rigid systems and unhelpful advice, preferring therapists who offered practical help and emotional validation.
• PTOTSLPOther2025Accessibility of Childcare Services for Children With Disabilities Aged 0 to 5 Years: A Scoping Review of Promising Solutions.Child: care, health and developmentChildcare accessibility research focuses almost entirely on social support and autism, leaving physical environment changes and other disabilities largely unexamined. Most solutions combine multiple interventions, so specific component effects remain unclear. Clinicians should advocate for broader research into environmental adaptations and non-autism populations.
• PTOTSLPCohort2026Sensitivity and Specificity of Developmental Surveillance and Autism Screening in an Australian Multicultural Cohort: The Watch Me Grow Study.Journal of autism and developmental disordersNo single screening tool or combination accurately identified developmental concerns in this multicultural cohort. The most sensitive approach missed 9 children, while tiered systems missed up to 21. Specificity remained low, risking over-referral. Repeated surveillance with clinician input is necessary for reliable detection.
• PTOTSLPOther2025A Further Characterisation of the Neuropsychological Profile, Social Perception, and Academic Skills in Sotos Syndrome.Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDRChildren with Sotos syndrome show a distinct cognitive profile: relative strength in facial memory but significant weakness in rapid speech, visuospatial construction, and mathematics. Social perception skills were not specifically impaired compared to other domains, despite high rates of autism comorbidity.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Characterisation of Challenging Behaviours and Associated Genetic and Neurological Features in Cardiofaciocutaneous Syndrome.Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDRCaregivers of 61 children and adults with cardiofaciocutaneous syndrome reported high rates of challenging behaviour. Behaviours peaked in adolescence. Escape and physical discomfort were the most common functions. Pain, sleep problems, and sensory differences were linked to higher behaviour frequency.
• PTOTSLPOther2025Child Care and Development in the Migration Context of Brazil: A Convergent Parallel Mixed Methods Study at an International Border.Child: care, health and developmentImmigrant parents in Brazil maintain strong physical care and bonding but struggle to provide play and stimulation due to stress, language barriers, and isolation. Children with these risk factors often show developmental delays, requiring clinicians to actively screen for social determinants rather than assuming neglect.
• PTOTOther2025Causes of Adolescent Low Back Pain: A Retrospective Study.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationIn adolescents with low back pain, most cases had no specific cause (42.81%). Disc disease was the second most common (27.64%), more frequent in women. Spondylolysis was third (14.54%), more frequent in men. This challenges assumptions about the primary driver of adolescent back pain.
• PTOTSLPRCT2025Cannabidiol (CBD) Treatment for Severe Problem Behaviors in Autistic Boys: A Randomized Clinical Trial.Journal of autism and developmental disordersPurified CBD did not significantly reduce problem behaviors compared to placebo in boys with severe autism. Both groups improved, with a strong placebo effect observed. Safety was acceptable, but the study found no global benefit over placebo for the primary outcomes.
• PTOTPilot2025Exploring Posturography in Children with Sickle Cell Disease.Physical & occupational therapy in pediatricsChildren with sickle cell disease scored lower on clinical balance tests but showed no deficits in computerized posturography. This suggests their balance problems are not caused by impaired sensory integration or weight-shifting strategies.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Associations Between 24-h Movement Behaviours and Health in 3- and 4-Year-Old Children From a Low-Income Country: The SUNRISE Ethiopia Study.Child: care, health and developmentChildren who slept longer had lower body mass index scores. Those with more physical activity had stronger handgrip, while more sitting time linked to weaker grip. No links were found for balance, jumping, or thinking skills.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2025Mothers' Ideas About Causes of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD): Differences Over Time and by Household Experience with ASD.Journal of autism and developmental disordersMothers of children with autism were more likely to blame biological causes like genetics or vaccines, while those without autism blamed lifestyle or diet. Over 13 years, belief in vaccines causing autism decreased, while belief in genetics increased.
• PTQualitative2025'Feeling like you can't do anything because you don't know where to start'-Parents' Perspectives of Barriers and Facilitators to Accessing Early Detection for Children at Risk of Cerebral Palsy.Child: care, health and developmentMothers of children referred late to cerebral palsy early detection services described feeling lost, unsupported, and forced to become advocates. They said plain language information, stable relationships, and clearer referral pathways would have helped.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Investigating Developmental Status of Children Aged 0-5 Years and Its Association With Child Gender, Family Background and Geographic Locations in Australian Community-Based Early Learning Centres.Child: care, health and developmentChildren aged 2–3 and boys were more likely to have developmental concerns in language and self-help domains. Children from culturally and linguistically diverse families showed higher risks in language and social-emotional areas. Mid-level socio-economic communities had unexpected academic concerns, while remoteness and Indigenous status showed no significant associations.
• PTCohort2025Early gross motor development: Agreement between the AIMS and the BSID-III.The South African journal of physiotherapyAt 6 months, the AIMS agreed with BSID-III gross motor scores when performance was low, but it caught only 27.3% of infants who later scored below average. A higher cut-off helped, yet positive screens still need follow-up.
• PTSystematic Review2025Dual Task Training Interventions and Mobility-Based Outcomes in Children with Cerebral Palsy: A Scoping Review.Physical & occupational therapy in pediatricsDual task training may improve balance, walking, gross motor function and functional mobility in children with cerebral palsy. Six studies cannot show which dose works, and no study measured performance change when tasks are done together.