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 32 OF 39 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTSurvey2025Acceptability and Barriers of Exercise in Children With Osteogenesis Imperfecta.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translation16 of 17 children said osteogenesis imperfecta made exercise harder, including fatigue, joint pain, weakness and fracture worry. They preferred swimming, cycling and walking, and 2 of 17 would add no 30-minute weekly exercise.
• PTOTCohort2026Clinical predictors of post-concussion kinesiophobia severity among adolescents.Brain injuryAdolescents with more severe initial concussion symptoms reported greater fear of movement. Prior musculoskeletal injuries were linked to lower fear of movement during recovery. Demographics and concussion history showed no association with kinesiophobia severity.
• PTOTSLPPilot2026Service Acquisition for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in Rural Southwest Virginia: The Role of Caregiver Psychoeducation.Journal of autism and developmental disordersCaregivers who attended live clinician-led psychoeducation sessions reported their children obtained significantly more new services over six months than those given paper materials only. The live sessions involved interactive discussion and personalized guidance on navigating systems like IEPs and insurance.
• PTOTOther2025Musculoskeletal changes and treatments in paediatric spinal cord disorders: A scoping review.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineChildren with spinal cord disorders often lose bone and muscle, with scoliosis, hip dysplasia, spasticity and fractures. Evidence on treatments is small and mixed, so do not assume any intervention works.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2025Assessing and Managing Agitation During Early Recovery in Children With Moderate-to-Severe Traumatic Brain Injury in Australia: A National Survey.The Journal of head trauma rehabilitationMost Australian clinicians managing agitated children with brain injury use general recovery scales, not agitation-specific tools. They rely on environmental changes and individualized care, with family education key. Practice varies widely, and formal training on agitation management is often lacking.
• PTCase Series2025Hyperselective neurectomy for spastic equinovarus in pediatric patients with hypertonia.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineIn seven children with spastic foot deformity, nerve surgery targeting calf muscles, sometimes with posterior tibial nerve surgery and physical therapy, lowered spasticity and improved ankle motion; no strength loss was reported.
• PTOTCohort2025Longitudinal interaction between muscle impairments and gait pathology in growing children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationWeakness in the hips and knees tracked closely with specific changes in walking patterns over time. This confirms that anterior pelvic tilt links to hip weakness, while tiptoeing links to knee weakness. Preserving these strengths may delay the need for compensatory movements.
• PTOTSLPCohort2026Sex Differences in Autistic Youth Born Extremely Preterm.Journal of autism and developmental disordersIn autistic children born extremely preterm, boys showed more restricted and repetitive behaviors and greater social affect difficulties than girls. However, parent-reported screeners and cognitive scores did not differ by sex. Screening tools alone may miss sex-specific traits in this group.
• PTOTSLPRCT2025Measuring Developmental Delays: Comparison of Parent Report and Direct Testing.Journal of autism and developmental disordersParent-reported developmental scores matched direct testing results closely in toddlers evaluated for autism. Misclassification rates were low, meaning most children flagged for speech or motor delays by direct testing were also flagged by parent report, supporting telehealth assessment.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2025Perspectives From Multidisciplinary Professionals in France on Shared Patient Portals for Integrated Pediatric Rehabilitation: Qualitative Study.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesProfessionals see shared portals bridging health, school, and leisure gaps but fear confidentiality breaches. They want sector-specific access, progressive child involvement, and interoperability to avoid double data entry. Adoption depends on beliefs about coordination value, not just digital skills.
• PTOTSLPOther2026Investigating Parental Observations of Early Autism Development in Simplex and Multiplex Families.Journal of autism and developmental disordersHaving an older autistic sibling did not increase parents' reports of early developmental concerns in younger children. Only the younger child's own later autism diagnosis predicted these reports. Parents' recall was not skewed by hypervigilance toward siblings.
• PTOther2025Estimating the contribution of musculoskeletal impairments to altered gait kinematics in children with cerebral palsy using predictive simulations.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationComputer models of eight children with cerebral palsy showed that muscle contractures, weakness, and bone deformities explained only up to 39% of their gait deviations. For those with mild walking issues, the models could not account for the differences from typical gait.
• PTOTSLPOther2025Utilising Behavioural and Sensory Profiles and Associated Perinatal Factors to Identify Meaningful Subgroups in Autism Spectrum Disorder.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAnalysis of 1168 autistic children identified four distinct subgroups based on behavioural, sensory, and perinatal profiles. One group had the most adaptive skill concerns with natal complications, while another showed the highest sensory impairment linked to maternal health factors, suggesting different support needs.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Rethinking the Accessibility of Hearing Assessments for Children with Developmental Disabilities.Journal of autism and developmental disordersChildren with developmental disabilities were nearly four times more likely than peers to miss gold-standard hearing assessments within three months. This gap was widest for those with cerebral palsy or multiple diagnoses, leaving many children undiagnosed and unable to access hearing technology or early intervention.
• PTOTOther2025Responses and reliability of candidate intensity measures to different mental and motor load levels of an upper limb exergame in children and adolescents with neurological diagnoses.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesChildren with neurological diagnoses reported higher effort and performed fewer movements as exergame difficulty increased. Heart rate variability also dropped during harder motor tasks. However, these measures were not reliable when repeated on separate days, so they cannot yet track therapy intensity in practice.
• PTOTQualitative2025Perceptions of occupational therapists and physiotherapists of early intervention therapy services for infants with or at risk of cerebral palsy: A qualitative interview study.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineTherapists report that fragmented communication between hospital and municipality services forces parents to carry medical records back and forth. This burden delays care and creates conflicting advice, while a focus on gross motor skills often causes therapists to miss the early window for hand function intervention.
• PTOther2025Does body weight support improve neural and biomechanical measures during treadmill gait in children with unilateral cerebral palsy?Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesPartial body weight support improved gait kinematics in high-functioning children with cerebral palsy but did not change muscle synergy patterns. Benefits peaked at 20% support and reversed at 40%. The study was observational, not a training trial.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Developmental Impacts of Early Sensory Patterns on School-Age Adaptive, Maladaptive, and Participation Outcomes in Autistic and Non-autistic Children.Journal of autism and developmental disordersChildren whose sensory sensitivity increased during preschool had lower adaptive skills and more anxiety at school age. This pattern also predicted less participation in classroom and community activities. These links were stronger in autistic children than in non-autistic peers.
• PTOTSLPOther2025Rehabilitation needs and healthcare utilization of adults with cerebral palsy: A mixed methods study.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineAdults with cerebral palsy still seen in pediatric rehabilitation had shifting equipment, therapy, and specialist needs, but only 21 of 280 had documented transition efforts.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025ICF-based functioning profiles in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy: Evidence from a population-based study in Argentina.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineChildren with severe motor impairments rated technology as a major facilitator, while those with milder issues saw it as neutral. Immediate family supported all levels, but health services and societal attitudes only helped the milder group.
• PTOTSLPCohort2026Prior Diagnoses and Age of Diagnosis in Children Later Diagnosed with Autism.Journal of autism and developmental disordersBlack children were diagnosed with autism about six months earlier than White children. White children had higher rates of prior diagnoses like ADHD and anxiety. More prior diagnoses predicted later autism diagnosis. These findings contradict expected disparities in access to care.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2025Autistic and autism community perspectives on infant and family support in the first two years of life: Findings from a community consultation survey.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic and non-Autistic community members largely agreed that early infant supports should help parents understand their child's needs and improve quality of life. They rejected goals like reducing autistic behaviours or forcing eye contact. Reinforcement strategies and the term 'intervention' were viewed with concern.
• PTOTMeta-Analysis2025Treatment dosage effects of treadmill-based exoskeletal robotic-assisted gait training in individuals with pediatric brain injuries: a systematic review and meta-analysis.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineTreadmill robotic gait training improved walking speed and standing ability in children with brain injuries, but not endurance or walking scores compared to conventional therapy. Benefits were clearest when combined with conventional therapy and delivered at high frequency.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Sleep Disturbances and Co-sleeping in Italian Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder.Journal of autism and developmental disordersSleep problems affected one-third of children with autism, with difficulty falling or staying asleep being the most common. Higher IQ, anxiety, and parental stress predicted these issues. Co-sleeping was very frequent but did not correlate with sleep disorder severity.
• PTOTOther2026Effects of Ball Combination Exercise Combined with cTBS Intervention on Sleep Problems in Children with Autism.Journal of autism and developmental disordersBall exercises and cTBS stimulation each helped specific sleep problems in autistic children, but neither was clearly better than the other. The combined approach did not significantly outperform single interventions on the main sleep measure, so there is no strong reason to use both together.
• PTOTCohort2026Sleep Problems in Children with ADHD: Associations with Internalizing Symptoms and Physical Activity.Journal of autism and developmental disordersChildren with ADHD who reported poor sleep had more severe depression, anxiety, and stress, and spent less time in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity than those with good sleep. Meeting physical activity guidelines was linked to lower depression and anxiety scores.
• PTOTSLPOther2026Autism Spectrum Disorder Symptom Profiles in Fragile X Syndrome, Angelman Syndrome, Tuberous Sclerosis Complex and Neurofibromatosis Type 1.Journal of autism and developmental disordersChildren with rare genetic syndromes do not share one autism symptom profile. Clinical observation and parent reports often disagreed, with some children showing high repetitive behaviors but normal social interaction, or vice versa. This mismatch means assessment tools must be interpreted together rather than separately.
• PTOTSLPCohort2026Gesture Imitation Performance and Visual Exploration in Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.Journal of autism and developmental disordersIn young children with autism, gesture imitation scores did not differ from typically developing peers, but imitation quality was linked to age and developmental skills. Looking at the demonstrator's face did not predict imitation accuracy. Meaningful gestures were harder for children with more severe autism symptoms.
• PTQualitative2025Exploring Impacts of Integrating a Rehabilitation Dog into Physiotherapy from the Perspectives of Children with Cerebral Palsy and Their Caregivers.NeuroRehabilitationChildren with cerebral palsy and caregivers reported that a rehabilitation dog in physiotherapy provided physical steadiness, emotional safety and enjoyment. They said the bond made sessions feel more personal and encouraged trying walking tasks.
• PTOTSLPCohort2026Sociodemographic and Clinical Profile of 915 Autistic Preschoolers Engaged in Intensive Early Intervention in Australia.Journal of autism and developmental disordersChildren entering intensive early intervention showed severe delays in adaptive and cognitive skills, with communication and expressive language being the weakest areas. Despite these high support needs, parental stress levels were similar to general autism samples rather than elevated.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Impact of single-event multilevel surgery on gait efficiency in children with cerebral palsy: a retrospective study.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineChildren with cerebral palsy who had single-event multilevel surgery improved their walking efficiency and overall gait quality. They walked with better knee extension and stronger ankle push-off, though their speed did not increase. These changes were seen in a retrospective study without a true control group.
• PTOTSLPMeta-Analysis2025Noninvasive brain stimulation for upper limb motor activity in children and young adults with cerebral palsy and pediatric stroke: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationAdding brain stimulation to therapy did not improve upper limb movement in children with cerebral palsy or stroke. The combined treatment showed no benefit over standard care alone, so clinicians should not expect these stimulation techniques to enhance motor recovery on their own.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2026Facing Change and Uncertainty: Lessons Learned from Autistic Children and their Families During the COVID-19 Pandemic.Journal of autism and developmental disordersFamilies reported both worsening and improving outcomes during lockdown. Children with sensory or social needs often struggled with lost structure, but others saw reduced anxiety and better communication from increased one-to-one time at home. Support services and school continuity were critical gaps.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2026Employing a Phased, Interdisciplinary Approach Across Healthcare and School Settings: mHealth Adaptations for Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder At-Risk of Experiencing Obesity.Journal of autism and developmental disordersFor youth with autism, participants said an obesity-prevention chatbot app should offer simple choices, safety prompts, visuals, and rewards, while fitting family life. They valued apps for teletherapy and home programs, but worried about cost, time, and parent burden.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2026Healthcare Providers' Perspectives on Autistic Adolescents Transitioning to Independent Driving.Journal of autism and developmental disordersProviders rely on ad-hoc strategies like role-playing and referrals to guide autistic adolescents toward driving. They report lacking a gold standard resource or autism-specific driver education, leaving them to improvise assessments of readiness and safety in real time.
• PTOther2025Differences in the dynamic balance function of healthy elementary school students and university students observed with and without the use of a sensor-integrated gamification application.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesThe sensor game did not change Y-Balance scores overall. It lowered one dominant-leg posterolateral score in elementary students, while university students showed no difference.
• PTOTSLPOther2026Parents' Early Concerns about Their Child with Autism: Relation to Age of Diagnosis.Journal of autism and developmental disordersSpecific early signs like not responding to name or losing skills predicted earlier autism diagnosis. General language delays or repetitive behaviors did not. A higher number of concerns was associated with later diagnosis in the final model, suggesting specificity matters more than volume.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2026The Knowledge and Preferences of Parents/Carers of Autistic Children and Young People about Technology Devices.Journal of autism and developmental disordersParents of autistic children overwhelmingly prefer tablets for support programmes, citing ease of use and familiarity. They reject virtual reality and robots due to sensory overload, cost, and unfamiliarity. These preferences reflect current household technology access rather than proven clinical effectiveness.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025The risk of epilepsy after neonatal seizures.Developmental medicine and child neurologyNeonatal seizures increase the risk of epilepsy, with about one in five affected children developing it by age 22. The risk is highest in the first year but stays elevated through adolescence. Four out of five children with neonatal seizures do not develop epilepsy.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2026A Qualitative Analysis of Unintentional Injuries in Autism Spectrum Disorder.Journal of autism and developmental disordersMothers of autistic children identified specific behavioral traits driving injury risk: communication deficits that hide pain, fixated interests (especially water), motor coordination issues, and elopement. Safety instruction must be adapted to non-verbal strengths, using visual supports and physical barriers rather than verbal warnings alone.
• PTOther2025Reproducibility of the Motor Optimality Score-Revised in infants with an increased risk of adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes.Developmental medicine and child neurologyFor infants at risk of neurodevelopmental problems, six trained clinicians could disagree on total movement quality, especially when fidgety movements were included. Scoring two videos and reaching group agreement made scores more consistent.
• PTOTSLPOther2025Genetic testing in cerebral palsy with clinical and neuroimaging variables.Developmental medicine and child neurologyClinicians support genetic testing for cerebral palsy but lack clear guidelines on who to test. In a retrospective cohort, no single clinical or MRI factor reliably predicted a genetic cause after multivariable analysis, though dysmorphic features and normal MRI were suggestive in univariable models.
• PTOTRCT2025Participation in activities of daily living after the Akwenda Intervention Program for children and young people with cerebral palsy in Uganda: A cluster-randomized trial.Developmental medicine and child neurologyChildren with cerebral palsy in rural Uganda who received the Akwenda program increased their attendance in daily activities more than waiting-list controls. Gains were largest for those with greater mobility limitations and in community activities like celebrations and employment.
• PTOther2026Association of sports and physical activity with mild traumatic brain injury and behavioral and neurocognitive function.Brain injurySoccer and climbing were linked with a higher chance of a history of mild brain injury in 9- to 10-year-olds, while yoga was linked with a lower chance. Sports participation was also linked with fewer behavioral and emotional problems and better thinking scores.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2026Barriers and Facilitators to Participating in Pediatric Oncology Rehabilitation: Childhood Cancer Survivor and Caregiver Perspectives.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationChildhood cancer survivors and caregivers identified barriers to rehabilitation participation, including inconsistent providers, lack of oncology-specific knowledge in community therapists, and insurance gaps. Facilitators included building trust through consistent care, flexible scheduling for treatment side effects, and clear discharge planning.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Sex Differences in Subacute Blood Biomarker Levels and Associations With Post-Concussion Symptom Severity in Adolescents With Concussion.The Journal of head trauma rehabilitationIn adolescents with concussion, females had higher tau levels than males. Biomarkers linked to symptoms differently by sex: p-tau181 correlated with cognitive issues in both, but NFL and UCH-L1 predicted physical symptoms in males and emotional symptoms in females. These are associations, not diagnostic tools.
• PTOTSLPCohort2026Disorder Type and Severity as Predictors of Mental Health in Siblings of Children with Chronic Disorders.Journal of autism and developmental disordersHow severe the child's condition is predicts sibling mental health problems. The specific diagnosis itself does not. Fathers' ratings of severity matched siblings' own reports better than mothers' did. Screen for risk based on functional impairment and daily life disruption, not just the diagnostic label.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Community participation, physical activity, and quality of life for children born very preterm.Developmental medicine and child neurologyHelpful environments and active participation linked to more movement and better quality of life. Adapting physical or social demands of community activities may support children, especially those born very preterm, more than targeting child impairment alone.
• PTOTCohort2025Overground robotic walker use in the home and community: a six-month prospective cohort study.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationOver six months, family-directed use of a robotic walker in the home was associated with modest improvements in walking ability, physical activity, and sleep. Most participants remained wheelchair users, and gains rarely crossed the threshold for clinical importance.
• PTOTSLPRCT2026Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder as a moderator of the efficacy of family-based problem solving after pediatric traumatic brain injury.Rehabilitation psychologyFamily-based problem solving improved daily functioning in teens without ADHD, but not those with pre-injury ADHD. Teens who developed ADHD after injury showed delayed gains at 18 months. Identify ADHD history before prescribing this intervention.