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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 31 OF 39 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTOTSLPQualitative2025Services Delivered by Specialized Professionals in Childcare Settings in Québec, Canada: Strengths and Limitations of Current Service Delivery Models.Child: care, health and developmentChildcare administrators in Québec identified ten service delivery models for professionals like SLPs and OTs, categorized by funding source and focus. Childcare-led models offered flexibility and trust, while healthcare-led models provided free access but suffered from long waitlists and rigid mandates. No single model met all needs.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2025Access to services for autistic people across Europe.Molecular autismAutistic people in Europe reported failed attempts to access therapy, mental health and autism diagnostic services, and most formally diagnosed participants had waited at least a month for diagnosis. Children and female participants faced more barriers for some services.
• PTOTOther2025Understanding bracing outcomes in adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis: a mixed-methods approach.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesAdolescents wearing braces for scoliosis reported that satisfaction with the brace was linked to better quality-of-life scores. Common complaints included sleep, breathing, chest pain, heaviness, balance problems and brace colour.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2025Thriving for Adolescents With Intellectual Disability: A Photo-Elicitation Qualitative Study.Journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities : JARIDAdolescents with intellectual disability defined thriving as five elements: enjoying life, developing, having a positive sense of self, connecting, and mattering. Parents added a sixth element, a safe and supportive environment. These themes were derived from photo-elicitation interviews.
• PTCase Report2025Ataxia telangiectasia in a Bahraini child treated with intensive physiotherapy: A case report.Hong Kong physiotherapy journal : official publication of the Hong Kong Physiotherapy Association Limited = Wu li chih liaoA 9-year-old girl with Ataxia Telangiectasia improved balance, trunk control and gross motor function after one year of intensive physiotherapy. She progressed from needing assistance to walking independently with a walker and climbing stairs without rails.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Early symptoms of autism spectrum disorders and association with Brazilian children's development and behavior.CoDASIn 221 Brazilian toddlers, 33% screened positive for autism risk. These children showed lower communication and social scores and higher behavioral problems. Screening should trigger holistic developmental assessment, not just an autism referral.
• PTOTSurvey2025An Investigation Into Gross Motor Skill Intervention Provisions for Children With Developmental Coordination Disorder in the Republic of Ireland: Cross Sectional Study.Child: care, health and developmentMost children waited over six months for motor skill help. When treatment arrived, it focused on daily living tasks rather than gross motor skills. Few parents were actively involved, despite high willingness to help at home.
• PTSystematic Review2025The Role of Parental Physical Literacy in Family Dynamics: A Systematic Scoping Review of Existing Evidence.Child: care, health and developmentParental physical literacy was positively linked to children's physical literacy and fitness. Parent-focused programs reported improved parental physical literacy and some child outcomes, but evidence is limited.
• PTOTSurvey2025Parental and Educator Perceptions of Implementing Standardized Screenings for Early Detection of Motor Skills in Preschoolers: A Representative Survey.Child: care, health and developmentParents and educators in Tyrolean kindergartens strongly support adding standardized motor screenings to routine care. They view these assessments as essential for early detection and school readiness, though they urge that screenings remain voluntary, playful, and integrated into daily routines to avoid burdening families.
• PTOTSystematic Review2025Using game performance measure to assess upper limb motor function in children with neuromotor disorders: a systematic review.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationGame-based assessments for children's upper limb function show promise in distinguishing impairment levels, but lack consistent reliability data. They capture movement details better than standard clinical tests, yet cannot currently replace validated measures due to insufficient evidence on consistency over time.
• PTOTSLPOther2025Transitions of 24-H Movement Behaviour Profiles From Schooldays to Weekends and Their Associations With Health-Related Quality of Life and Well-Being in Czech Adolescents.Child: care, health and developmentAdolescents who kept an active, low-sitting, good-sleep routine from school days to weekends reported higher quality of life. Those who shifted to poorer habits had significantly lower scores. Weekend drop-offs in activity were common, but not linked to worse outcomes.
• PTOTOther2025Smartphone app to support goal setting in pediatric rehabilitation: app development, usability and acceptability study.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationTherapists found a pediatric goal-setting app easy to use and acceptable, but the study did not test whether it improves goals or child outcomes.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2025Hospital to Home Transitions for Children With Medical Complexity: A Scoping Review of Healthcare Professionals Experiences.Child: care, health and developmentHealthcare professionals managing hospital-to-home transitions for medically complex children report lacking specific training, clear role definitions, and reliable community support. They describe heavy emotional burdens and frustration with fragmented communication, noting that when coordination fails, families become default case managers.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Developmental outcomes of small infants at a high-risk clinic: A short-term longitudinal study.The South African journal of communication disorders = Die Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir KommunikasieafwykingsAt 6 months corrected age, 8 of 28 small infants had a screening referral for developmental concerns, especially communication and motor skills. At 12 months, all 17 who attended scored above the developmental test average. This does not prove catch-up.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2025Socio-Emotional Development in Young Children With Cerebral Palsy: A Scoping Review.Child: care, health and developmentSocio-emotional difficulties are common in young children with cerebral palsy. Severity of motor disability, communication delays and parenting difficulties were consistently linked to poorer outcomes. Most evidence relies on parent reports and cross-sectional designs, limiting causal conclusions.
• PTOTOther2025Content validity of mobility measures in arthrogryposis multiplex congenita: engaging clinicians and people with lived experience.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesStandard mobility tools for children with arthrogryposis miss key aspects like pain, fatigue, and compensatory strategies such as scooting. They do not fully capture real-world mobility challenges, so clinicians should supplement these measures with assessments of assistive device use and environmental barriers.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Developmental Profiles of Young Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children and Their Associated Predictors.Child: care, health and developmentDeaf and hard of hearing children show higher rates of developmental delay than the general population, with 35% scoring below cut-off in communication. Prematurity, low birthweight, and medical comorbidities predict delays across all domains, regardless of hearing loss severity.
• PTOTCohort2025Engagement With Recommended Developmental Follow-up and Supports Among Infants With Intrauterine Opioid Exposure.Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBPAmong infants with prenatal opioid exposure, 93% were referred to early intervention, but only 73% were evaluated and 58% enrolled. Only 34% attended a developmental follow-up visit. Infants staying with parents attended follow-up less often.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Obstetric Care and Pregnancy Health in Autistic Individuals and Those with Other Developmental Disabilities in an Integrated Healthcare Setting in California.Autism in adulthoodAutistic and developmentally disabled patients in an integrated system had higher rates of therapeutic abortion, severe vomiting, preterm birth, and perinatal depression than general population peers. They also used emergency departments more often and had lower odds of live birth.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2025Father Involvement in the Lives of Their Children With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities in the UK.Journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities : JARIDFathers of children with intellectual and developmental disabilities described performing extensive direct care, including personal care into adulthood. They reported feeling excluded from professional meetings and struggling with mental health while trying to balance work and caregiving. Services often centered on mothers, leaving fathers as secondary participants.
• PTOTQualitative2025Understanding School Presenteeism and Absence in Adolescents Affected by Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain: A Qualitative Study.Child: care, health and developmentAdolescents with chronic musculoskeletal pain and their parents described being at school and taking part as shaped by being believed by staff, having trusted friends, and managing transitions. Walking aids sometimes drew stigma. Adjustments were described as making it easier to stay in school.
• PTOTOther2025ABILHAND-kids young CP: a measure of manual ability in young children with cerebral palsy aged 2 to 7.Journal of rehabilitation medicineA new 17-item caregiver questionnaire measures manual ability in children with cerebral palsy aged 2 to 7. It covers daily tasks like dressing and eating with high precision, filling the gap for younger children before standard school-age tools apply.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2025Exploring Early Childhood Development Interventions for Building Human Capital in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Scoping Review.Child: care, health and developmentNutrition-focused interventions in Sub-Saharan Africa consistently reported growth benefits, but multidimensional programs showed mixed results. Early learning and responsive caregiving interventions were scarce, leaving gaps in evidence for developmental outcomes beyond physical growth.
• PTCohort2025Association between trunk aesthetics and underling scoliosis severity and curve type in adolescents: evaluation of traditional clinical scores and novel automated indices from rasterstereographic imaging.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineTrunk asymmetry scores and automated image indices correlated weakly to moderately with scoliosis severity, but scores varied by rater and image type. Waist and hemithorax asymmetry tracked severity better than shoulders or scapulae, suggesting limited reliability for standalone screening.
• PTSystematic Review2025Running Retraining Technique and Neuromuscular Exercises in Runners with Patellofemoral Pain: A Scoping Review.International journal of sports physical therapyNo standard protocol emerged: 15 studies of runners with patellofemoral pain used very different neuromuscular and running retraining programmes.
• PTOTSystematic Review2025Identifying Issues in Effective Motor Imagery Training Practice in Children With Developmental Coordination Disorder: A Scoping Review.Occupational therapy internationalMotor imagery training studies in children with developmental coordination disorder varied in tasks, dose, and imagery checks. Some reported motor skill gains, but no standard method exists, and this scoping review could not confirm effectiveness.
• PTOTOther2025Efficacy of Hand Arm Bimanual Intensive Therapy in Improving Real-World Bimanual Performance and Identifying Predictors for Therapy Success in Children with Unilateral Cerebral Palsy.Physical & occupational therapy in pediatricsIn children with unilateral cerebral palsy, 30 hours of bimanual therapy increased real-world affected-hand use and self-reported performance, but one movement measure did not change. No control group.
• PTCohort2025Association Between Maturity Status, Landing Force, and Jump Performance in Adolescent Male Soccer Players.International journal of sports physical therapyLanding forces did not differ by maturity status in adolescent male soccer players, but jump performance was significantly higher in post-PHV athletes. Classification by maturity offset detected performance differences that chronological age missed.
• PTCohort2025Comparison of motor performance in typically developing children engaged in gymnastics and classical ballet.Journal of physical therapy scienceChildren doing weekly gymnastics threw and jumped farther than those doing weekly ballet. Children doing ballet had less body sway when standing, especially with eyes open. The study cannot separate the effect of the training from the effect of being a boy or a girl.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2025Transportation Access in the Transition to Adulthood: Navigating a Neurotypical World on the Autism Spectrum.Journal of autism and developmental disordersCaregivers and providers describe autistic youth hitting barriers in transit, driving tests, and school travel training. Sensory overload, stigma, and poor coordination with schools block independence. Low-income families face higher costs and fewer options, deepening inequities in adult outcomes.
• PTPilot2025Home-Based mHealth Platform (Active-Feet) for Children With Idiopathic Toe Walking: Design, Development, and Acceptability Study.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesParents and children with idiopathic toe walking rated a home stretching app as easy to use and acceptable. It was not tested for improvements in walking, ankle range, or adherence.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025The Caregiver Concerns Questionnaire: A Tool to Target Care for Children on the Autism Spectrum.Journal of autism and developmental disordersCaregivers of autistic children rated moderate or severe problems in 7 of 19 areas on average. Language and attention concerns dropped with age, while anxiety and social interaction concerns rose. Sleep and gut issues tracked with behavioral problems.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Application of Sensory Subtypes: Understanding Core Autism Features, Adaptive Behaviors, and Motor Skills in Autistic Children.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAutistic children classified as having extreme-mixed sensory differences showed significantly lower motor skills, adaptive behavior, and higher repetitive behaviors compared to those with mild sensory differences. Children with attenuated-preoccupied sensory profiles demonstrated notably higher motor skills than the extreme-mixed and sensitive-distressed groups.
• PTCase Report2025Spontaneous movement therapy for a young adult with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: a case report.Journal of physical therapy scienceOne young adult with scoliosis had a reported 4.6° reduction in thoracic Cobb angle after 8 weeks of spontaneous movement therapy. The change was below the threshold the authors considered clinically meaningful, and no comparison group was used.
• PTOTSLPCase-Control2025Associations of Adaptive Behavior and Wandering with Serious Injuries in Young Children with Autism: Study to Explore Early Development.Journal of autism and developmental disordersFor preschoolers with autism and significant early learning delays, wandering is associated with higher rates of serious injury. Conversely, those with learning delays but normal adaptive behavior skills had higher injury rates than those with delays in both areas, possibly due to caregiver overestimation of safety awareness.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Quality of life in adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis: A cross-sectional comparison.The South African journal of physiotherapyAdolescent girls with scoliosis reported quality of life scores similar to healthy peers. The primary comparison found no significant difference in physical, psychological, or social well-being between the two groups.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2026Chores Participation, Self-Efficacy, and Transition Readiness in Youths With Diabetes: Preliminary Results.OTJR : occupation, participation and healthYouths with diabetes who did more household chores independently reported higher readiness to manage their own healthcare. Self-efficacy fully or partially explained this link, suggesting chores build the confidence needed for the transition to adult care.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2026Caregiver and student perspectives on school services for students with traumatic brain injury during the COVID-19 pandemic.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineFamilies described remote learning as often failing to deliver necessary accommodations, with teachers overlooking plans and students unable to engage with screens. However, some found flexibility and self-pacing reduced anxiety and helped them manage symptoms and appointments better.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2026Social development of girls with a physical disability during adolescence: Parent perspectives.Rehabilitation psychologyMothers of girls with physical disabilities reported that puberty amplified the gap between their daughters and peers. Girls struggled to find friends who understood their daily medical routines. This led to increased self-consciousness and hesitancy to socialize, even for those who appeared to have good friendships.
• PTCase Series2025An Animal-Assisted Physiotherapy Intervention with a Rehabilitation Dog for Walking and Balance Training: A Case Series of Children Living with Cerebral Palsy.NeuroRehabilitationFour children with cerebral palsy improved postural control scores by 4 to 5 points after eight weeks of individualized physiotherapy with a trained rehabilitation dog, harness, and therapist handler. Walking measures varied, and no adverse events were reported. The dog alone cannot be credited.
• PTOTSLPCohort2026Characteristics of pediatric patients with sports-related concussions: A single site retrospective review.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicinePediatric sports concussions peak during each sport's season, with football leading. Uninsured or Medicaid patients were more likely to present to the emergency department, miss follow-up appointments, and require a longer period to complete the same number of visits as privately insured patients.
• PTOTSLPOther2026A national consensus-based framework on preferred assessments and interventions in current treatment for young people with acquired brain injury in Dutch rehabilitation centers.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineDutch rehabilitation teams agreed on 37 assessments and 25 interventions for young people with acquired brain injury. The list covers physical, occupational, speech, and social work domains to standardize care, though most tools were not specifically validated for this population.
• PTRCT2025Aquatic Treadmill Walking Lowers Pelvic Motion Irregularity in Typically Developing and Children With Cerebral Palsy.American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitationAquatic treadmill walking made pelvic motion steadier than dry treadmill walking, and slower speeds made it steadier. Children with cerebral palsy and typically developing children responded similarly. The outcome was motion steadiness, not walking ability.
• PTRCT2025Sex Differences in Response to Low- Versus High-Volume Aerobic Exercise for Sport-Related Concussion: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.The Journal of head trauma rehabilitationAdolescents with concussion did not show a clear recovery difference between low and high volumes of aerobic exercise. In females, the high-volume group trended toward slower recovery, but this was not proven.
• PTOTSLPCohort2026Impact of intensive, multidisciplinary neurorehabilitation on functional independence following pediatric acquired brain injury (ABI): A matched cohort study.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineIn matched pediatric ABI inpatient cohorts, higher-intensity and lower-intensity therapy did not differ for functional independence at discharge. Both groups improved. OT minutes were associated with better discharge scores, but this was observational and not proven causal.
• PTOTSLPCohort2026Multidisciplinary rehabilitation and follow-up for children hospitalized with traumatic brain injury.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineOver half of children hospitalized with traumatic brain injury had new functional impairments requiring fresh referrals at their first follow-up clinic. Earlier inpatient therapy consultations were associated with discharge to home, but this was a single-center observational study.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Differential effects of sport type on brain versus orthopedic injury and sports benefits in the adolescent brain cognitive development study.Brain injurySoccer and American football linked to higher mild brain injury risk in 9-10 year olds. Climbing showed higher brain injury risk than broken bones. Sports participation associated with better behavior and cognition in children with prior brain injury, though causality cannot be determined.
• PTCohort2025Preliminary study on the treatment of prepubescent adolescent idiopathic scoliosis with Schroth exercises combined with core exercises.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesIn five prepubescent adolescents with scoliosis, six months of Schroth plus core exercises coincided with lower average spinal curve angle (Cobb 24.12° to 12.68°) and better pain, function, and self-image. With no control group, this is not proof of benefit.
• PTOTSLPMeta-Analysis2025Effects of Nordic Walking in people with respiratory diseases: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Journal of rehabilitation medicineNordic walking did not beat other exercise on six-minute walk distance in the main analysis. It outperformed no exercise, but the positive result relied on removing one outlier study. All included trials had high risk of bias.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Evaluating the safety of a robotic supine gait training device for pediatric rehabilitation - a retrospective study.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineNo adverse events were recorded in 280 children and adolescents using a robotic supine gait training device. The emergency stop button was never pressed. This supports safety for traction and mobilization but does not prove the device improves function or reduces pain.