Modified Shuttle Walk Test Article Summary
Purpose: to determine if a home exercise program using active video games (AVG), which in this case is the Nintendo Wii, is effective in improving exercise capacity, quality of life, and muscular strength in younger patients with cystic fibrosis. Study population: 39 clinically stable children with cystic fibrosis from ages 7-18 years. Children who were lung transplant patients or if they had pulmonary rehabilitation within the last 12 months were excluded. Children with osteoarticular, neuromuscular, or cardiovascular comorbidities were also excluded. A final reason for exclusion was the inability to attend at least 80% of the intervention sessions. Methods: This was a single blind randomized control trial. To ensure randomization, someone not involved in the study placed each child into either the control group or the training group. The staff who administered all outcome measures and questionnaires were also blinded to which group each child was in. All…
Read MoreChanges in Lower Extremity Strength May be Related to the Walking Speed Improvements in Children with Cerebral Palsy After Gait Training
Title: Changes in Lower Extremity Strength May be Related to the Walking Speed Improvements in Children with Cerebral Palsy After Gait. Purpose: Copious amounts of research have demonstrated that gait training can improve the ability of children with spastic cerebral palsy to ambulate. The purpose of this study was to determine if lower extremity strength increases secondary to gait training is the primary physiological cause of said increased ability to ambulate. Determining if lower extremity strength increases are the primary physiological cause would allow clinicians to supplement their gait training program with a focused lower extremity strengthening program when working with children with a diagnosis of spastic cerebral palsy. Population: Children both male and female who have a diagnosis of cerebral palsy (either hemiplegic or diplegic). Ages of participants ranged from 6-17 and were a 2 or 3 on the gross motor function classification system. Methods: The participants were recruited…
Read MoreIntensive upper- and lower-extremity training for children with bilateral cerebral palsy: a quasi-randomized trial
Title Intensive upper- and lower-extremity training for children with bilateral cerebral palsy: a quasi-randomized trial Purpose The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of HABIT-ILE (Hand-arm bimanual intensive therapy including lower extremity) on children with bilateral impairments form cerebral palsy. Methods Study Population: 20 children were included in the study. 10 were placed in the intervention group and 10 in the control group. These participants were from Brussels and New York (10 included from each). Inclusion Criteria Bilateral Cerebral Palsy in the CMFCS levels II-IV, between the ages 6-16, able to grab objects and lift 15cm above a table with most affected upper extremity, no cognitive impairments, and able to follow directions. Exclusion Criteria Children were excluded if they have had botox injections in the last 6 months, uncontrolled seizures, difficulties with vision, unable to walk a few steps with an assistive device such as a walker….
Read MoreArticle Summary: Does Home-Based Progressive Resistance or High-Intensity Circuit Training Improve Strength, Function, Activity or Participation in Children With Cerebral Palsy?
Schranz C, Kruse A, Belohlavek T, et al. Does Home-Based Progressive Resistance or High-Intensity Circuit Training Improve Strength, Function, Activity or Participation in Children With Cerebral Palsy? Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. 2018;99(12). doi:10.1016/j.apmr.2018.06.010. This article researched the effects of progressive resistance training (PRT) and high-intensity circuit training (HICT) in children with Cerebral Palsy. The participants were between the ages of 8-16 and included high functioning children capable of walking (Class I and Class II on the Gross Motor Function Classification system). Children were recruited from an outpatient facility and were randomized into treatment groups by a third party provider uninvolved in the research design. The same 5 exercises were performed in both groups, but the method of exercise was different. In the PRT group, the exercises were progressed by increasing the weight of a vest, while the HICT group progressed by increasing the speed of the activity. The HICT…
Read MoreSix-Minute Walk Test Results Predict Risk of Hospitalization for Youths with Cystic Fibrosis: A 5-Year Follow-Up Study
Donadio MCAV, Heinzmann-Filho JP, Vendrusculo FM, Frasson PX, Marostica PJ. Six-Minute Walk Test Results Predict Risk of Hospitalization for Youths with Cystic Fibrosis: A 5-Year Follow-Up Study. The Journal of Pediatrics. 2017;182. doi:10.1016/j.jpeds.2016.11.071. The purpose of this study was to determine if the 6 minute walk test, along with multiple other variables, could predict the risk of hospitalization for pulmonary exacerbation in children and adolescents with cystic fibrosis over a five year period. The other variables include anthropometry, chronic pseudomonas aeroginosa colonization, pulmonary function, and respiratory muscle strength. The evaluated values for lung function were forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), and forced expiratory flow 25% and 75% of FVC (FEF25%-75%) Of the 41 participants that were eligible for the study, only 26 participants met the inclusion criteria of being able to perform all of the required tests (satisfactory lung function, respiratory muscle strength, and…
Read More3 and 6 minute walk test update
There have not been any new updates regarding the 6-minute walk test norms since last year. However, there have been new studies published that indicate it is a valid test for the pediatric population. Also, I was not able to find any normative values for the 3 minute walk test in the pediatric or adult population. Citation of Article: Den boer SL, Flipse DH, Van der meulen MH, et al. Six-Minute Walk Test as a Predictor for Outcome in Children with Dilated Cardiomyopathy and Chronic Stable Heart Failure. Pediatr Cardiol. 2016 Article Summary: The purpose of the article was to see if the 6 minute walk test could be a predictive outcome in children with dilated cardiomyopathy. There were 49 participants with dilated cardiomyopathy who were 6 years and older who performed the 6 minute walk test. The patients were instructed to walk back and forth on an 8 m…
Read MoreUpdate on the 6 and 3-minute walk test for a pediatric population
No new information found on the 6 or 3-minute walk test for children since last year. From current research, still no accepted values for MCID. From my findings, there is still little information on recommendations of normative values on the 3-minute walk test. Citation for Article Summary: Lee, Yang-Soo, Won-Bok Kim, and Joo-Wan Park. “The Effect of Exercise Using a Sliding Rehabilitation Machine on the Gait Function of Children with Cerebral Palsy.” J Phys Ther Sci Journal of Physical Therapy Science 26.11 (2014): 1667-669. Web. 4 Mar. 2016. Summary: The study’s purpose is to look at the impact of using a sliding rehab machine (SRM) in order to improve gait function in children with cerebral palsy. Participants were recruited in an outpatient setting if they fit the below inclusion/exclusion criteria. The study had 13 children participate in the intervention 16 times in 8 weeks (2x/wk for 30 minutes). The SRM…
Read More3 and 6 Minute Walk Test
Title: 6 Minute Walk Test (6 MWT) 3 Minute Walk Test (3 MWT) Edition: 6 MWT: 1.01 3 MWT: None reported. Dates of Publication: 6 MWT: The original guidelines for this test were published in 2002 by the American Thoracic Society in the American Journal of Respiratory Critical Care Medicine.1-3 3 MWT: Currently, there are standardized guidelines published for the administration of this test. Date of Revision: 6 MWT: In 2007, Geiger et al published guidelines in The Journal of Pediatrics for administration of a modified 6 minute walk test for children ages 3 – 18.2,3 3 MWT: Currently, there are no standardized guidelines published for the administration of this test and no reported revisions for the pediatric population. Author (s): 6 MWT: Original Guidelines: American Thoracic Society. Pediatric Guidelines: Ralf Geiger, MD, Alexander Strasak MD, Benedikt Tremi, MD, Axel Kleinsasser, PhD, Victoria Fischer, MD, Harald Geiger, MD, Alexander Loeckinger,…
Read More