Pediatric Physical Therapy最新文献

Purpose: To explore the feasibility of a vestibular/oculomotor caregiver-supervised exercise program in children post moderate-severe traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Methods: The study included 37 children aged 6-18 years, with a median of 42-days post moderate-severe TBI. The intervention-group participated in a vestibular/oculomotor caregiver-supervised exercise program for 8 weeks; the control-group continued with standard-care only. Feasibility was evaluated based on the number of adverse-events and practices reported, and the ability to perform assessments. Vestibular/oculomotor function was evaluated by the number abnormal tests in the Vestibular/Ocular-Motor-Screening. Balance was evaluated by the Pediatric Balance Scale and Functional-Gait-Assessment.

Results: All participants completed the tests and no adverse-events were observed during the study. However, only 6 participants in the intervention-group performed ≥80% of the recommended practice. All assessments were significantly improved (P < .05) in both groups, with no significant differences between them.

Conclusions: Although the vestibular/oculomotor caregiver-supervised intervention program was safe, the cooperation-rate was low, indicating difficulties with feasibility.

Purpose: To evaluate feasibility and effect of Enhanced Play Education (EPE) on development relative to Usual Play Education (UPE) for infants of varying abilities. EPE encouraged child-initiated movement, problem-solving with objects, and responsive communication; UPE reflected popular education.

Methods: Participants were randomly assigned to the UPE or EPE group and received written, illustrated instructions to perform their play activities 15 minutes daily. Standardized developmental assessments occurred at baseline, after the 4-week intervention, and 1 and 2 months later.

Results: Forty-nine infants (M = 3.5 months; 35 with typical development; 14 at risk of developmental delays) and 44 parents were enrolled. Both interventions were feasible. Infants with typical development had greater cognitive and supine gross motor improvements after EPE; infants at risk had greater gross motor improvements after EPE.

Conclusion: Educating parents to engage in quality play activities may be an effective method to advance early motor and cognitive outcomes for young infants.

Purpose: Low back and neck pain are increasing worldwide, even in children. However, Italy lacks validated tools for the assessment of children and adolescents with spine disorders. The Young Spine Questionnaire (YSQ) seems to be an appropriate option. The aim of this study was to translate, adapt, and validate the YSQ to develop an Italian version of it.

Methods: One hundred thirty-three participants were recruited in the area of Trieste, aged between 9 and 12 years old. The YSQ and the KIDSCREEN-10 were assessed with regard to their reliability, test-retest reliability from 3 to 4 days, and construct validity.

Results: The mean age of the sample was 10.25 (±1.5), with a slight prevalence of females (62.7%). The internal consistency was high, with an alpha score ranging from 0.62 to 0.92 and a total score of 0.82. The test-retest showed good reproducibility. The total score of the YSQ showed a Spearman correlation coefficient of 0.87. For the dimensions and the items of the questionnaire, the scores ranged from 0.52 to 0.79. Construct validity showed a strong correlation between the questionnaires, with a score of 0.61.

Conclusions: The YSQ seems to be a valid and reliable questionnaire to assess spinal pain in Italian children. According to the results of the psychometric proprieties, the use of this questionnaire is recommended.

Purpose: To describe physical therapy dose (frequency, intensity, time, type) delivered to individuals with autism at an outpatient pediatric medical center in 1 year.

Methods: Retrospective electronic medical record data were collected. Physical therapists document session details in a standardized flowsheet that includes child effort (intensity) on a 0 to 6 Likert scale, minutes (time) addressing 7 focus areas, and interventions (type) from 11 categories.

Results: Two hundred ninety-one individuals with autism received 1356 sessions (median 2, IQR: 1-6). Child effort was distributed normally. Most of the time was spent in the pre-functional, gross motor developmental, and gait focus areas. Most intervention types delivered were in the education, musculoskeletal, and neuromuscular categories. Therapists infrequently administered standardized measures to assess motor delays or provided physical activity interventions.

Conclusions: The findings are relevant to educators and administrators in determining the resources needed for serving individuals with autism. Future studies examining PT services are warranted.

Purpose: We investigated the long-term impact and use, from the families' perspectives, of modified ride-on cars for children with motor disabilities.

Method: We used Participatory Action Research using photovoice methods with 13 families of young children with disabilities. Families collaborated as coresearchers by capturing photographs representing their experiences and sharing their meanings. Inductive thematic analysis was used.

Results: We identified 4 themes: (1) opening doors for inclusion; (2) facilitating exploration and fun; (3) hopes for the future; and (4) challenges in design and functionality.

Conclusion: Photovoice method effectively captured families' experiences with modified ride-on cars. Despite design and functionality limitations, ON Time use of modified ride-on cars is valuable for play, learning, exploration, mobility, and engagement for children with motor disabilities and their families.

Purpose: This systematic review investigated the threshold dose of active lower limb training required to improve outcomes in children with cerebral palsy (CP) and to evaluate the reporting of motor learning strategies.

Methods: Five databases were searched for randomized controlled trials on active lower limb training in children with CP. Independent assessors conducted study selection, data extraction, and risk of bias assessment. Clinically significant mean group changes established dose thresholds, while motor learning strategies were assessed based on 11 common strategies.

Results: One hundred and one studies (3566 participants, mean age 8.8 years) met inclusion criteria. Threshold doses were 12 hours for walking speed, 7.5 hours for walking endurance, 23.33 hours for gross motor function, and 21 hours for goal performance. Motor learning strategy reporting was low. Most studies had a high risk of bias.

Conclusions: These results provide preliminary guidance for optimizing therapy time to improve walking speed and endurance, gross motor function, and goal performance. More high-quality studies with detailed intervention reporting are needed.