Test-Retest Reliability of Handgrip Strength Measurement in Children and Preadolescents
Title: Test-Retest Reliability of Handgrip Strength Measurement in Children and Preadolescents Purpose: The purpose of this study was to research the impact of sex, age, and/or hand dominance on test-retest of hand grip strength (HGS) measurements- and to establish HGS reliability in a typical developing pediatric population. Study population: This study included 338 typically developing children between the ages of 7 to 13 years old. Methods: The study population was tested using a digital handgrip strength dynamometer (Jamar Plus+ Dynamometer) by the same rater on two different testing trials. Testing sessions were separated by a one-day interval. HGS testing was administered according to the American Society of Hand Therapists’ recommendation. Outcome measures: With the assistance of the American Society of Hand Therapists, researches used a protocol similar to the gold standard use of the Jamar Dynamometer in adults. This started with a warm-up followed by 2-3 testing trials of the…
Read MoreReliability of timed walking tests and temporo-spatial gait parameters in youths with neurological gait disorders- Article Summary
Title Reliability of timed walking tests and temporo-spatial gait parameters in youths with neurological gait disorders. Purpose The purpose of this study was to investigate the test-retest reliability of temporo-spatial gait parameters in the 10-Meter Walk Test (10MWT) and 6 Minute Walk Test (6MWT) in a population of kids with neurological gait disorders. Population A total of 9 girls and 21 boys were included in the study, with a mean age of 13 years old. Diagnoses of participants included Cerebral Palsy (10), stroke (6), TBI (6), demyelination of CNS (2), astrocytome (2), postinfectious encephalopathy (1), medulla blastoma (1), transverse myelopathy (1), and ataxia with unclear etiology (1). 23 of the 30 participants were independent walkers, 4 individuals used walkers, 2 used crutches, and 1 with 4 point crutches. 8 participants utilized AFOs, 3 had insoles, and 1 utilized a foot lifter splint. Methods A convenience sample of patients were recruited…
Read MoreClinical evaluator reliability for quantitative and manual muscle testing measures of strength in children
Escolar DM, Henricson EK, Mayhew J, et al. Clinical evaluator reliability for quantitative and manual muscle testing measures of strength in children. Muscle & Nerve. 2001;24(6):787-793. doi:10.1002/mus.1070 Purpose: Testing muscle strength is an important part of a pediatric evaluation. Traditionally, specific muscle groups have been tested using manual muscle testing (MMT) which has been shown in other studies to be subjective and requiring significant experience to perform consistently. An alternative measure, quantitative muscle testing (QMT), uses a strain gauge to measure maximal voluntary isometric contraction and has been tested in studies with patients who have amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The authors’ purpose in this study was to determine if QMT would be more reliable and easier to implement that MMT. Methods and Intervention: The subjects of the study were ten physical therapists and two physicians who had 6.92 5.46 years of experience evaluating children, 6.75 4.13 years evaluating…
Read MoreTurkish adaptation of ACTIVLIM-CP Article Summary
Reference: Kınık M, Naz I. An investigation of the psychometric properties of the turkish adaptation of the activity limitations in cerebral palsy questionnaire. Disability & rehabilitation. Jul2022, P1-7. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to test the psychometric properties of the ACTIVLIM-CP after its translation into Turkish. Study population: The population of this study was 89 children who had been diagnosed with cerebral palsy that were getting physical therapy treatment. Methods: The researchers in this study first got permission to translate the study from the original authors, then got approval from the ethics board at Izmir Katip Celebi University, then got permission from the location of where the research was held and got informed consent of the parent of the children. This study was done in three phases, translation into Turkish and cross-cultural adaptation, the implementation of the ACTIVLIM-CP along with other outcome measures, then the…
Read MoreHealth-related quality of life and caregiver burden after hip reconstruction and spinal fusion in children with spastic cerebral palsy Article Summary
Title: Health-related quality of life and caregiver burden after hip reconstruction and spinal fusion in children with spastic cerebral palsy Purpose: The purpose of this study is to determine how health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and caregiver burden is effected following a hip reconstruction or spinal fusion in non-ambulatory children with spastic cerebral palsy. Population: The study population included children with CP in GMFCS levels IV and V and their respective parent/caregiver. A total of 69 participants were studied, with 43 undergoing hip reconstruction and 26 undergoing spinal fusion. 40 were male and 29 were female with the mean age being 11y 6mo and ranging from 3y 10mo to 20y 7mo. The average of age of caregivers for children of hip surgery were 40y 10mo and for spinal surgery was 45y 5mo. Methods: A prospective, longitudinal study was performed over a course of 5 years and determining the…
Read MoreDual task effect on gait in children with cerebral palsy; Edinburgh Visual Gait Score Article Review
“Dual-task training effect on gait parameters in children with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy: preliminary results of a self-controlled study” Purpose The purpose of this study was to determine how dual task training effects gait, functional skills, and health related quality of life in children with spastic CP. Population Eleven children aged 6-17 with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy an Gross Motor Function Classification level 1-2 took part in the study. Methods The children were screened for eligibility and were included if they were GMFCS level I or II aged 6-17 and obtained 27 or higher on the mini mental state exam. They were excluded if they used assistive devices, have a recent injury affecting lower extremities, undergone surgery or Botulinum Toxin application, have severe cardiopulmonary or systemic problems, seizures, or visual problems. The participants then were evaluated using GMFM and Edinburgh Visual Gait Scale. They then took part in an 8-week…
Read MoreComparison of the Physiological Responses Induced by Different Pediatric Exercise Field Tests in Children
Title: Comparison of the Physiological Responses Induced by Different Pediatric Exercise Field Tests in Children Reference: Scalco JC, Minsky RC, Mayer AF, Caputo F, Schivinski CIS. Comparison of the physiological responses induced by different pediatric exercise field tests in children. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2019;54(9):1431-1438. doi:10.1002/ppul.24423 Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare three different exercise tests, the 6-minute walk test (6MWT), modified shuffle walk test (MSWT), and pediatric Glittre activities of daily living test for children (TGlittre-P), and observe their physiological effects in healthy children. Due to the ever-changing development of children, it can be challenging to determine the physiological deficits that children with chronic diseases are experiencing throughout the course of their disease. This study aimed to gain more insight into the typical responses of healthy children in order to guide the interpretation of these walk tests when used on children with chronic diseases and help…
Read MoreCaregiver Priorities and Child Health Index of Life with Disabilities (CPCHILD) Article Summary
Reference: Şimşek TT, Sertel M, Yümin ET, Aras B, Narayanan UG. Validation of the Caregiver Priorities and Child Health Index of Life with Disabilities (CPCHILD) in a sample of Turkish non-ambulatory children with cerebral palsy. Turk Pediatri Ars. 2019;54(1):13-27. Published 2019 Mar 1. doi:10.14744/TurkPediatriArs.2019.57778 Purpose: The purpose of this study was to transcribe the CPCHILD outcome measure to Turkish in order to assess the reliability and validity among 82 young children with cerebral palsy. Population: 82 children ages 5-18 with cerebral palsy were recruited for this study. Of the children recruited for the study, 26 children were level III, 30 were level IV, and 26 were level V when graded using the Gross Motor Function Classification System. The children were selected from 5 different special education and rehabilitation programs. Methods: The CPCHILD is an outcome measure utilized specifically for children with cerebral palsy. This measure assesses domains including…
Read MoreAssessment of Caregiver Experience with Neuromuscular Disease (ACEND) Article Summary
Title: Development and Initial Validation of the Assessment of Caregiver Experience with Neuromuscular Disease 1 Reference: Matsumoto H, Clayton-Krasinski DA, Klinge SA, et al. Development and Initial Validation of the Assessment of Caregiver Experience With Neuromuscular Disease. J Pediatr Orthop. 2011;31(3):284-292. doi:10.1097/BPO.0b013e31820fc522 Purpose: The purpose of this study was to present the development of the ACEND and the initial validation of this outcome measure’s ability to assess the effects of neuromuscular diseases and orthopedic interventions on caregivers. Study Population: The participants in the development of the ACEND included 60 patients with varying neuromuscular disease (NMD) and their parents. Some of the diagnoses included in this study were CP, spinal muscular atrophy, Duchene muscular dystrophy, dystonia, and others. In the second part of the study, initial validation of the ACEND, a different 46 patients with varying NMD and their respective caregivers were enrolled. Patients with non-English speaking caregivers…
Read MoreUse of the TIMP in Assessment of Motor Development of Infants With Down Syndrome
Kloze A, Brzuszkiewicz-Kuzmicka G, Czyzewski P. Use of the TIMP in Assessment of Motor Development of Infants With Down Syndrome. Pediatr Phys Ther. 2016 Spring;28(1):40-5. doi: 10.1097/PEP.0000000000000216. PMID: 27088684. Purpose: The Test of Infant Motor Performance (TIMP) is an outcome measure utilized in pediatric physical therapy to assess posture and movement patterns in infants under 4 months of age. It is considered the gold standard for infant motor performance and has been shown to predict outcomes for 12 months of age. This study assessed the utilization of the TIMP to examine motor performance in infants diagnosed with down syndrome. Study Population: Subjects were 64 infants with down syndrome with a mean adjusted age of 9.4 weeks old who had no comorbidities that could place the child at an increased risk for surgery or long-term hospitalization. The study included a control group of 77 infants with a mean age of…
Read MoreAssessing change in children with CP using the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM) Article Summary
Kang M, Smith E, Goldsmith CH, et al. Documenting change with the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure for children with cerebral palsy. Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology. 2020;62(10):1154-1160. doi:10.1111/dmcn.14569 Purpose: To evaluate the strength of the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM) to measure clinically meaningful change over 3 years in children with cerebral palsy (CP). Study population details: The participants included 124 children, 47 females and 77 males, with a diagnosis of spastic CP. Ages 2-6 years old were recruited with an average age of 3 years and 11 months. Using the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS), 78 of the children were classified as level I, 21 as level II, and 25 as level III. Methods: The children’s caregivers created one to three COPM goals that were framed to be achieved long-term, over 3 years. The goals were focused on improving participation in leisure and community activities or gross motor activities….
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