Normative values for the ACTIVLIM-CP Article Summary
ACTIVLIM-CP was recently developed for children who have cerebral palsy (CP) and used to assess their global activity performance in 43 different areas focusing on self-care, mobility, and domestic life. The purpose of this article was to provide normative values in regards to the ACTIVLIM-CP, determine its ability to discriminate between various functional levels in children with cerebral palsy, and determine its precision, construct validity, and clinical relevance. The study population included 503 typically developing children (259 boys and 244 girls) ages 2 to 18 years old and 285 children with cerebral palsy (134 boys and 15 girls) also aged 2 to 18 years old. Data was collected by having the parents complete the ACTIVLIM-CP questionnaire. For typically developing children, the parents completed the questionnaire through the child’s school, and for parents of children with CP, they completed the questionnaire either during the child’s usual care from health professionals or…
Read MoreThe Effects of Passive Smoking on the Six-Minute Walk Test in Obese Pediatric Cases- Article Summary
Reference: Kaymaz N, Yıldırım Ş, Tekin M, et al. The effects of passive smoking on the six-minute walk test in obese pediatric cases. J Clin Res Pediatr Endocrinol. 2014;6(4):245-249. doi:10.4274/Jcrpe.1524 Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine whether secondhand smoking affects the results of the six-minute walk test (6MWT) of obese pediatric patients with no other comorbidities. Study Population: The population studied were 75 children ages 7-10 with a diagnosis of obesity (BMI >95th p) that was not a result of any endocrine, genetic, or metabolic issues with no comorbidities. The studied included 40 male and 35 female participants. Participants were excluded if they presented with conditions such as hypertension, impaired cardiac/respiratory function, glucose intolerance, hyperlipidemia, neuromuscular conditions, etc. Methods: The participants were split into two groups; Group 1 was made up of obese children exposed to passive smoking and Group 2 consisted of obese children not exposed to…
Read MorePediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) in children with cancer: Article Summary
Study Varni JW, Burwinkle TM, Katz ER, Meeske K, Dickinson P. The PedsQL™ in pediatric cancer: Reliability and validity of the pediatric quality of life inventory™ generic core scales, multidimensional fatigue scale, and cancer module. Cancer. 2002;94(7):2090-2106. doi:10.1002/cncr.10428 Purpose The study was conducted to examine the clinical relevance of the use of the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory 4.0 (PedsQL) in pediatric patients with cancer. The PedsQL administered included the Generic Core scales, Multidimensional Fatigue Scale, and Cancer Module. Population 339 families were given the 3 questionnaires. Patients were of ages 2-18, 56% male and 44% female, and considered heterogenous in terms of ethnicity and race. The most common diagnoses included leukemia, brain tumor, lymphoma (both non-Hodgkin and Hodgkin), and Wilms’ tumor. Patients had no other comorbidities and were eligible to participate at all stages of treatment, from newly diagnosed to recently in remission. Methods Patients were recruited from oncology and…
Read MoreStratified normative data for the Timed Up and Down Steps test: Article Summary
Development of stratified normative data and reference equations for the timed up and down stairs test for healthy children 6-14 years of age del Corral T, Vivas-Mateos J, Castillo-Pelaz M, Aguilar-Zafra S, López-de-Uralde-Villanueva I. Development of stratified normative data and reference equations for the timed up and down stairs test for healthy children 6–14 years of age. Physiotherapy. 2021;112:31-40. doi:10.1016/j.physio.2021.03.002 Purpose: To create a normative data set and reference equations for the timed up and down stairs test (TUDS) of children age 6-14 years old. Study Population: Children age 6-14 years old. Methods: A cross-sectional design was used. A convenience sample was taken of 258 white children (125 boys, 133 girls) aged 6-14 years with no medical history of cognitive disorders, sensory impairments, or conditions affecting their ability to walk. The short version of the Minnesota Leisure-Time Physical Activity Questionnaire (MLTPAQ) was administered, height, weight, and rate of perceived exertion…
Read MoreVery low birth weight infants and the Alberta Infant Motor Scale: Article Summary
Alberta Infant Motor Scale Article Summary Article “Using the Alberta Infant Motor Scale to early identify very low-birth-weight infants with cystic periventricular leukomalacia,” Lin-Yu Wang, Yu-Lin Wang, Shan-Tair Wang, Chao-Ching Huang, Brain and Development, Volume 35, Issue 1, 2013, Pages 32-37 Purpose The purpose of the study is to determine if the Alberta Infant Motor Scale can determine if very low birthweight infants who are preterm have cystic periventricular leukomalacia. This study is done in a longitudinal context starting as early as six months corrected age and at 12 and 18 months respectively. Population The population included 35 preterm infants with very low birth weight and cystic periventricular leukomalacia, 70 preterm infants with very low birthweight and no signs of cystic periventricular leukomalacia, and 76 healthy control infants without cystic periventricular leukomalacia that were full term and birth weight within normal limits. The selection criteria for preterm infants includes infants from…
Read MoreImpact of caffeine therapy on neurodevelopment: Bayley Scales of Infant Motor Development (BSID-III) article summary
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the impact on neurodevelopment for very low birth weight (VLBW) newborns who received caffeine therapy within 48 hours of birth. Study population: The population used in this study were 160 newborns who met the 32-week gestational age requirement and were discharged from the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Methods: The study was performed retroactively and used a cohort of newborns that were between 18-22 months of post-menstrual age (PMA). Data was collected on each participant including day of life when the caffeine therapy was started and other data about the clinical course. The participants were put into 3 categories: no caffeine, caffeine therapy started before 48 hours of life, caffeine therapy started after 48 hours of life. The data was taken from the participants charts from the clinic or hospital they were seen at. From the chart, the language, cognitive, and…
Read MorePhysical therapy comparisons using the Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory (PEDI) Article Summary
Aizawa CY, Morales MP, Lundberg C, et al. Conventional physical therapy and physical therapy based on reflex stimulation showed similar results in children with myelomeningocele. Arq Neuropsiquiatr. 2017;75(3):160-166. doi:10.1590/0004-282X20170009 Purpose: Meningomyelocele, (MMC) is a type of spina bifida which is a birth abnormality that impacts the child’s development due to the damage of the spinal cord and nerves. This causes delays in motor skills such as ambulation, trunk control with independent sitting, bimanual tasks along with other functional tasks. It has been proposed that an early intervention physical therapy program could optimize the function of infants with MMC to enhance their sensory-motor function. Techniques such as proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) techniques such as rhythmic initiation and isotonic combinations have been utilized to facilitate activities like rolling, standing from sitting, and walking. The use of these techniques has been studied previously and has shown improvements in multiple populations with sensory-motor impairments…
Read MoreEnvironmental factors in disabled children: Craig Hospital Inventory of Environmental Factors (CHIEF) Article Summary
Article: Assessment of environmental factors in disabled children 2–12 years: development and reliability of the Craig Hospital Inventory of Environmental Factors (CHIEF) for Children–Parent Version Reference: McCauley D, Gorter JW, Russell DJ, Rosenbaum P, Law M, Kertoy M. Assessment of environmental factors in disabled children 2-12 years: development and reliability of the Craig Hospital Inventory of Environmental Factors (CHIEF) for Children-Parent Version: CHIEF for Children-Parent Version. Child: Care, Health and Development. 2013;39(3):337-344. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2214.2012.01388.x Purpose: The purpose of this study was to adapt the Craig Hospital Inventory of Environmental Factors (CHIEF) into an suitable outcome that could measure environmental factors which limit a disabled child’s activity and participation. Study Population: The study was conducted with 61 families in Ontario, Canada that had a disabled child between 2-12 years old. The participants were samples of patients attending three children’s treatment centers (CTCs) in Southern Ontario. Methods: Secondary data: The authors analyzed previous…
Read MoreComparison of motor proficiency and ambulation in children with DMD: Bruininks Osteretsky Test of Motor Proficiency- Article Summary
Title: Comparison of motor proficiency and functional ambulation in Duchenne muscular dystrophy with healthy peers Authors: Sulenur Yildiz, Sedef Sahin, Numan Bulut, Oznur Tunca Yilmaz, Aynur Ayse Karaduman & Burcu Semin Akel Purpose: The purpose of this article was to examine the differences of gross motor control and fine motor control in children with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) and healthy children. Study Population: The study evaluated 24 boys with DMD who were referred to Hacettepe University, Faculty of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, and Pediatric Neuromuscular Rehabilitation Unit; as well as the 22 healthy children. Methods: Age, weight, heigh and body mass index (BMI) were recorded. The Bruininks Osteretsky Test of Motor Proficiency- Short Form (BOTMP-SF) was administered to all 46 children to assess fine motor and gross motor control. To assess the correlation between motor proficiency and functional ambulation, the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) and North Start Ambulatory Assessment (NSAA)…
Read MoreReaching in infants: Segmental Assessment of Trunk Control Article Summary
Title: Segmental Trunk Control Acquisition and Reaching in Typically Developing Infants Authors: Jaya Rachwani, Victor Santamaria, Sandra L. Saavedra, Stacy Wood, Francine Porter, and Marjorie H. Woollacott1 Citation: Rachwani J, Santamaria V, Saavedra SL, Wood S, Porter F, Woollacott MH. Segmental Trunk Control Acquisition and Reaching in Typically Developing Infants. Exp Brain Res Exp Hirnforsch Exp Cerebrale. 2013;228(1):131-139. doi:10.1007/s00221-013-3544-y Purpose: The purpose of this study was to understand the influence of external support at the thoracic and pelvic levels of the spine on functional reaching development. Study Population/Methods: There were 17 full-term infants aged 4-6 months that participated in this study (9 males to 8 females). Participants were recruited via flyers in various day care centers in Oregon, USA. The infants were separated into 2 groups after being assessed with the SATCo (Segmental Assessment of Trunk Control) and AIMS (Alberta Infant Motor Scale) to determine level of trunk control and…
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