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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 9 OF 39 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTOTSystematic Review2019Interventions to improve upper limb function for children with bilateral cerebral palsy: a systematic review.Developmental medicine and child neurologyEvidence on upper limb treatments for children with bilateral cerebral palsy is limited and mixed. Some programmes showed gains, but most studies were small, low quality, and combined occupational or physical therapy, so no single treatment can be recommended confidently.
• PTOTSLPOther2019International clinical practice recommendations on the definition, diagnosis, assessment, intervention, and psychosocial aspects of developmental coordination disorder.Developmental medicine and child neurologyDiagnose DCD only after age 5 unless severe. Use MABC-2 or BOT-2 with a 16th centile cut-off. Prioritize activity-oriented interventions like task-specific training. Sensory integration therapy lacks evidence. Screen for ADHD and anxiety, as co-occurrence is common and impacts outcomes.
• PTOTCohort2019Relationship between walking efficiency and muscular strength of the lower limbs in children with cerebral palsy.Journal of physical therapy scienceFor children with cerebral palsy who walk inefficiently, stronger leg muscles linked to better walking efficiency. For those already walking efficiently, muscle strength showed no link to efficiency. Check a child's current walking efficiency before prescribing strength training.
• PTOTSLPOther2019What Drives Detection and Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder? Looking Under the Hood of a Multi-stage Screening Process in Early Intervention.Journal of autism and developmental disordersReferring children for autism assessment based on provider or parent concern, even when screening scores are negative, found more diagnoses per staff hour than relying on positive scores alone. Concern was the stronger driver of engagement and diagnosis than the test results.
• PTOther2019Associations between impairments and activity limitations components of the international classification of functioning and the gross motor function and subtypes of children with cerebral palsy.Journal of physical therapy scienceChildren with more limited gross motor function had more impairments and greater difficulty with transfers and mobility. Spastic quadriplegia and GMFCS level V were linked, while hemiplegia and lower levels walked more independently.
• PTCohort2019Muscle synergies demonstrate only minimal changes after treatment in cerebral palsy.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationAfter injections, nerve surgery, or orthopedic surgery, plus usual rehabilitation, children's muscle coordination patterns changed little. Small changes made the patterns less like typical walkers. Orthopedic surgery improved walking form, but walking speed decreased.
• PTOTSystematic Review2019Effects of Dopamine on Motor Recovery and Training in Adults and Children With Nonprogressive Neurological Injuries: A Systematic Review.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairEvidence for dopamine medication was mixed. Some levodopa stroke studies showed motor improvement, but evidence for traumatic brain injury, cerebral palsy, and spinal cord injury was weak.
• PTOther2019Three-dimensional path of the body centre of mass during walking in children: an index of neural maturation.International journal of rehabilitation research. Internationale Zeitschrift fur Rehabilitationsforschung. Revue internationale de recherches de readaptationIn healthy children 5–13, the body's centre of mass path while walking got shorter and less side-to-side relative to height as age increased, and changed shape with speed. These treadmill norms are preliminary, not a validated clinical test.
• PTOTOther2019Does physical activity differ between youth with and without intellectual disabilities?Disability and health journalYouth with intellectual disabilities averaged 33.5 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous activity daily versus 46.5 minutes in peers, and only 6% met the 60-minute guideline. Their regular activities were similar or more frequent, especially girls, so low time, not lack of participation, was the pattern.
• PTOTOther2019Relationships between grip strength, dexterity, and fine hand use are attenuated by age in children 3 to 13 years-of-age.Journal of physical therapy scienceIn children 3 to 13, grip strength and fine hand use scores are higher at older ages. After age is accounted for, tests are not strongly related, so one test cannot replace another.
• PTSurvey2019Meeting the 24-hr movement guidelines: An update on US youth with autism spectrum disorder from the 2016 National Survey of Children's Health.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchYouth with autism were less likely than peers to meet activity and screen-time guidelines. Children with autism were also less likely to meet the sleep guideline. For adolescents, sleep was similar to peers.
• PTQualitative2019Do physiotherapists have a role to play in the Sustainable Development Goals? A qualitative exploration.The South African journal of physiotherapySouth African academic physiotherapists saw their profession as able to contribute to health, education and women empowerment goals. They named HIV, chronic disease, maternal and child health, disability education and mentoring women.
• PTOther2019Predictors of Walking Efficiency in Children With Cerebral Palsy: Lower-Body Joint Angles, Moments, and Power.Physical therapyIn adolescents with cerebral palsy, less knee and hip extension while walking was linked to higher oxygen cost. Age changed which joint angles mattered, but the tested variables did not independently predict walking efficiency.
• PTOTSLPNarrative Review2019The Spectrum of Developmental Disability with Zika Exposure: What Is Known, What Is Unknown, and Implications for Clinicians.Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBPChildren with congenital Zika syndrome often have severe brain, vision, feeding, motor, language, and seizure problems, and hearing impairment is variable. Not all exposed infants are affected. Screening and multidisciplinary follow-up are recommended, but rehabilitation effects are unknown.
• PTOther2019Sensitivity and specificity of normalized truncated navicular height in assessment of static foot posture in children aged 6-12 years.Hong Kong physiotherapy journal : official publication of the Hong Kong Physiotherapy Association Limited = Wu li chih liaoIn healthy children aged 6 to 12, static NTNH <= 0.19 matched the radiographic result for 88.1% of flat arches and 99.5% of normal arches.
• PTOTSLPCohort2019Latent trajectories of adaptive behaviour in infants at high and low familial risk for autism spectrum disorder.Molecular autismInfants at high risk for autism split into three adaptive behaviour trajectories. A small group with initially high scores declined significantly and had higher autism symptom severity. Most maintained stable average skills, while another group started low and recovered to average levels by age two.
• PTOther2019Intra-rater reliability of arch height ratio measurement using the navicular tuberosity on the surface of the body in children with Down syndrome.Journal of physical therapy scienceIn 27 children with Down syndrome, one examiner repeated surface foot measurements three times and obtained very similar arch height ratio values. The method appears repeatable, but it has not been compared with X-rays or tested across different clinicians.
• PTSystematic Review2019The effectiveness of Schroth exercises in adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.The South African journal of physiotherapySupervised Schroth exercises reduced spinal curvature (Cobb angle) and improved quality of life versus observation, bracing or Pilates in adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis. The evidence came from four small trials, so confidence in the benefit is limited.
• PTCohort2019Dynamic stability during walking in children with and without cerebral palsy.Gait & postureHigh-functioning children with CP did not show less anterior stability than controls during walking. They showed more lateral stability on the non-dominant limb, but this may not protect them from trips.
• PTOTOther2019Prevalence and goal attainment with spinal orthoses for children with cerebral palsy.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineOnly 251 of 2800 children with CP used spinal orthoses, mostly for function. Functional goals were often attained, but 37% of children with severe scoliosis who had that goal attained deformity prevention.
• PTNarrative Review2019Airway clearance therapy in acute paediatric respiratory illness: A state-of-the-art review.The South African journal of physiotherapyThis narrative review synthesizes evidence and expert opinion on airway clearance therapy for acute paediatric respiratory illness. It highlights that routine use is often unsupported by high-level evidence and may cause harm, advocating for individualized assessment instead.
• PTOther2019The utility of using peak expiratory flow and forced vital capacity to predict poor expiratory cough flow in children with neuromuscular disorders.The South African journal of physiotherapyIn 41 South African children with neuromuscular disorders, peak expiratory flow and forced vital capacity tracked peak cough flow. Values below 160 L.min −1 peak flow or 1.2 L vital capacity pointed to likely ineffective cough, but confirmation is needed before replacing cough tests.
• PTOTQualitative2018Development of the Pediatric Disability Inventory-Patient Reported Outcome (PEDI-PRO) measurement conceptual framework and item candidates.Scandinavian journal of occupational therapyYouth with developmental disabilities could describe difficult functional tasks when tied to familiar everyday situations, such as shopping or working at a job. Researchers used this to draft PEDI-PRO items. The measure is not yet validated.
• PTCohort2019Validity and feasibility of the self-report EQ-5D-Y as a generic Health-Related Quality of Life outcome measure in children and adolescents with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis in Western Cape, South Africa.The South African journal of physiotherapyIn 64 children with JIA, the short EQ-5D-Y self-report took just over 1 minute, had no missing answers, and often matched disease-specific measures, especially pain and mobility. It may be a quick screen, but did not fully match all measures.
• PTOTOther2019Sensory Processing and Maladaptive Behavior: Profiles Within the Down Syndrome Phenotype.Physical & occupational therapy in pediatricsParent reports showed children with Down syndrome who seemed hard to engage or sought intense sensory experiences had more disruptive and self-absorbed behavior. This was an association, not proof that changing sensory experiences would change behavior.
• PTOTOther2019Physical fitness and executive functions in adolescents: cross-sectional associations with academic achievement.Journal of physical therapy scienceSeveral fitness scores related to school grades and some executive-function scores in 713 adolescents. Balance did not relate to grades, and this cannot show fitness improves grades.
• PTOther2019Validity and reliability study of the motor accuracy test in Turkey.Journal of physical therapy scienceIn 100 Turkish children with no disabilities, the Motor Accuracy test gave consistent scores after two weeks and its scores moved in line with an eye-hand coordination test. It can help assess ages 6 to 8 years, 11 months, not prove treatment benefit.
• PTSystematic Review2019Review of scoliosis-specific exercise methods used to correct adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.Archives of physiotherapyNo reliable combined evidence was found that scoliosis-specific exercises reduce adolescent spinal curve angles compared with no treatment or standard exercise. Some individual studies favoured exercise, but the review could not combine them reliably and rated the evidence as insufficient or limited.
• PTOTRCT2020One-Year Comparison of a Community-Based Exercise Program Versus a Day Hospital-Based Exercise Program on Quality of Life and Mental Health in Severely Burned Children.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationBoth community-based and day-hospital exercise programs improved quality of life and physical function in severely burned children, with no significant difference between the two groups. Parents reported more emotional and social improvements in the community group, but overall outcomes were similar.
• PTOTOther2019Upper limb impairments, process skills, and outcome in children with unilateral cerebral palsy.Developmental medicine and child neurologyIn 108 children with one-sided cerebral palsy, upper limb strength and movement control, plus task planning and organization, were most strongly tied to self-care independence. Better affected-hand sensation supported manual ability, while spasticity was less directly linked.
• PTOTCohort2019Emergency department utilization among pediatric spina bifida patients.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineChildren with spina bifida, especially those with higher lesion levels, used the emergency department frequently. Shunt concerns drove most visits, but only 10% of those with shunt complaints had a malfunction. Urinary issues were the most common reason for hospital admission.
• PTCase Report2019Newly developed hybrid assistive limb for pediatric patients with cerebral palsy: a case report.Journal of physical therapy scienceAfter one 20-minute session that included standard physical therapy, a smaller walking assist device, a harness, orthoses, and crutches, an 11-year-old with cerebral palsy walked faster, from 0.92 to 1.10 m/sec. The contribution of the device alone cannot be separated.
• PTOTQualitative2019Culture, Health, Function, and Participation Among American Indian and Alaska Native Children and Youth With Disabilities: An Exploratory Qualitative Analysis.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationFamilies said American Indian and Alaska Native children with disabilities often watched cultural events instead of taking part, because terrain, equipment, and transport blocked them. Providers did not ask about these cultural participation needs.
• PTCase-Control2019Subtle Motor Signs in Children With Chronic Traumatic Brain Injury.American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitationChildren with chronic moderate or severe TBI had subtle motor problems even when walking independently: worse overall motor scores, worse timed motor scores, and more unwanted movement in larger muscles on the same side than matched controls. The sample was small.
• PTOther2019Reliability of the Motor Learning Strategies Rating Instrument in physiotherapy intervention for children with cerebral palsy.Developmental medicine and child neurologyTrained physiotherapists could rate the total Motor Learning Strategies score for children with cerebral palsy with moderate agreement, but individual items were less reliable. Do not use the instrument to judge single therapist behaviours.
• PTOTSLPCohort2019Risk Markers for Not Returning to Work Among Patients with Acquired Brain Injury: A Population-Based Register Study.Journal of occupational rehabilitationOne year after brain injury, women, people born outside Sweden, lower education, aphasia, long hospital stays, mobility or self-care problems, pain, anxiety/depression, and lower satisfaction with rehabilitation process or planning were at higher risk of not returning to work.
• PTOTSLPCohort2020Changing Healthcare and School Needs in the First Year After Traumatic Brain Injury.The Journal of head trauma rehabilitationUnmet or unrecognized health care needs were 22% at 3 months, with 13% unrecognized and 7% unmet at 12 months. Needs shifted from physical to cognitive and socioemotional, and combined health care or school need was 28% at 3 months and 24% at 12 months.
• PTCohort2019Preventive care services and health behaviors in children with fragile X syndrome.Disability and health journalMost children and young adults with fragile X syndrome had immunizations and dental care, but only 24.4% met the physical activity measure and 55.4% had recent flu vaccination. Young adults 16 to 20 and non-Hispanic Black participants were less likely to meet some recommendations.
• PTOTPilot2019Bimanual Skill Learning after Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation in Children with Unilateral Cerebral Palsy: A Brief Report.Developmental neurorehabilitationChildren and young adults with unilateral cerebral palsy got faster at a bimanual cup-stacking task over ten days of tDCS and bimanual training. Without a sham group, training alone may explain the improvement.
• PTOTPilot2019Alexithymia in adolescents with and without chronic pain.Rehabilitation psychologyAdolescents with chronic pain reported greater difficulty identifying feelings than healthy peers, even when depressive and anxiety symptoms were similar. This difficulty was linked to more pain bothersomeness and interference with usual activities, not pain intensity.
• PTCohort2019Comparison of Rest to Aerobic Exercise and Placebo-like Treatment of Acute Sport-Related Concussion in Male and Female Adolescents.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationAdolescents with sport-related concussion who did daily light aerobic exercise at a heart rate set below the point where symptoms worsened recovered in fewer days than those prescribed relative rest.
• PTRCT2020Lessons learned from a blended telephone/e-health platform for caregivers in promoting physical activity and nutrition in children with a mobility disability.Disability and health journalPhone coaching plus a website did not improve retention or behavior compared with phone coaching alone. Completion was lower with the website, 67% versus 92% by phone only, and parents said calls mattered most.
• PTOther2019Quantitative Evaluation of Content and Age Concordance Across Developmental Milestone Checklists.Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBPFour common developmental milestone checklists had low overlap. Each had at least 170 milestones, but on average only 40 were shared. The same skill often appeared at different ages, so checklist wording alone may not guide referral.
• PTOTSLPOther2020Generic preference-based health-related quality of life in children with neurodevelopmental disorders: a scoping review.Developmental medicine and child neurologyGeneric quality-of-life tools often miss key issues for children with neurodevelopmental disorders, like peer relations or school behaviour. Parents and children also report different scores. These tools should not be used alone to judge treatment success or resource allocation.
• PTCohort2019Parental empowerment in paediatric rehabilitation: Exploring the role of a digital tool to help parents prepare for consultation with a physician.Child: care, health and developmentParents using a digital preparation tool before a physician consultation did not show higher family empowerment scores than parents who did not use it. They were more likely to report looking up information online.
• PTOTSLPCohort2019Use of Ages and Stages Questionnaires™ (ASQ) in a Navajo population: Comparison with the U.S. normative dataset.Child: care, health and developmentIn Navajo infants, ASQ-3 scores were lower than U.S. norms in several domains, especially around 10 months. Estimates suggested the screener identified more than 80% of delayed infants and correctly classified more than 85% of infants not at risk across 1 to 13 months.
• PTOTSystematic Review2020Effects of upper extremity surgery on activities and participation of children with cerebral palsy: a systematic review.Developmental medicine and child neurologyChildren with cerebral palsy improved in hand use and perceived performance after upper extremity surgery, but evidence quality was very low. No improvements were found in speed or capacity. Surgeons cannot recommend this procedure based on current data.
• PTQualitative2019A journey through follow-up for neurodevelopmentally at-risk infants-A qualitative study on views of parents and professionals in Liverpool.Child: care, health and developmentParents of babies at high risk of developmental delay wanted clear, realistic information about the future and valued a familiar lead professional. Parents and professionals also described unclear referral pathways, inconsistent screening and long waits as barriers to support.
• PTOTSystematic Review2020Long-term effects of selective dorsal rhizotomy in children with cerebral palsy: a systematic review.Developmental medicine and child neurologySelective dorsal rhizotomy in children with cerebral palsy did not show better long-term function than routine therapy and orthopaedic care. Spasticity reduction often persisted, but some needed additional antispasticity treatment.
• PTOther2019The relationship of age, early motor skills and observable child behaviors in young children with developmental delays.Research in developmental disabilitiesIn 113 toddlers with developmental delays, better gross motor skills were linked to more compliance and better adaptation, and partly accounted for the association between older age and these behaviors. This one-time study cannot show motor skills cause behavior change.