PURPOSE: Systematically review current evidence on physical therapy (PT) intervention for developmental coordination disorder (DCD) to inform the update to the 2020 DCD Clinical Practice Guideline (CPG). METHODS: Eight d...PURPOSE: Systematically review current evidence on physical therapy (PT) intervention for developmental coordination disorder (DCD) to inform the update to the 2020 DCD Clinical Practice Guideline (CPG). METHODS: Eight databases were searched for qualitative studies, randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and systematic reviews (SRs) that informed PT management of DCD. Risk of bias and certainty of evidence were assessed. RESULTS: Sixteen studies were included. Three SRs, 3 RCTs, and 1 qualitative study supported task-oriented interventions, the first-choice intervention recommended by the 2020 DCD CPG. One SR and 7 RCTs supported supplemental activities, including a meta-analysis of 2 studies on active video gaming. One qualitative study informed how physical therapists adapt motor learning strategies for children with DCD. CONCLUSION: Newer evidence reaffirms 3 of the 5 recommendations on intervention of the 2020 DCD CPG and adds low to very low-quality evidence on new evidence-informed supplemental activities.
PURPOSE: Investigate the effect of structured neonatal physical therapy program (SNP) on neurodevelopmental outcomes of moderate and late preterm (MLP) infants. METHODS: Sixty MLP infants were randomly allocated to usual...PURPOSE: Investigate the effect of structured neonatal physical therapy program (SNP) on neurodevelopmental outcomes of moderate and late preterm (MLP) infants. METHODS: Sixty MLP infants were randomly allocated to usual care (UC) or SNP. A previous publication reported the effect of neonatal component of SNP at hospital discharge. This paper examined SNP's effect on motor, cognitive and language outcomes at 3 and 6 months using a 2-way mixed design ANOVA. RESULTS: Both groups were similar at baseline for motor scores. Infants receiving SNP significantly outperformed UC at all subsequent time points. At 3 and 6 months, SNP significantly outscored UC in cognitive and language outcomes. CONCLUSION: SNP is effective in improving neurodevelopmental outcomes of MLP infants. However, caution is suggested in interpreting its effect on cognition and language as we lacked baseline scores to compare the longitudinal trajectory.
Washist R, Steventon D, Samuelson P
… +3 more, Anderson B, Berg-Poppe P, Milanovich S
Pediatr Phys Ther
· 2025 Jan · PMID 39729330
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UNLABELLED: Purpose: Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) with associated weakness, areflexia, neuropathic pain, and sensory loss, is a common occurrence in children treated for cancer. However, accurate, qu...UNLABELLED: Purpose: Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) with associated weakness, areflexia, neuropathic pain, and sensory loss, is a common occurrence in children treated for cancer. However, accurate, quantifiable descriptions of gait deviations due to CIPN are lacking. This scoping review explores common gait abnormalities in children with CIPN. METHODS: Using extensive database and manual literature reviews, 3 relevant studies were identified that assessed CIPN-related gait changes in children. RESULTS: Though each study used different methods to analyze gait patterns, decreased ankle dorsiflexion with slower and shorter gait were common findings across the studies. Changes to ankle dorsiflexion range of motion can lead to slower walking speeds and compensatory changes that can cause developmental effects on a child's gait. CONCLUSIONS: Relevant research on the topic of CIPN-related gait abnormalities in children with cancer identifies knowledge gaps and the need for more studies on the effects of CIPN on children.
PURPOSE: This study explored whether the type of torticollis, amount of tummy time or container time, participant age at examination, and Alberta Infant Motor Scales score influence the length of physical therapy care fo...PURPOSE: This study explored whether the type of torticollis, amount of tummy time or container time, participant age at examination, and Alberta Infant Motor Scales score influence the length of physical therapy care for infants with torticollis. METHODS: Data for 149 participants were extracted from medical records for infants with torticollis who received care between November 2018 and November 2021. RESULTS: Statistically significant correlations were found between length of care (LOC) and torticollis type, age at examination, active range of motion rotation deficit, and passive range of motion rotation deficit. A multiple regression model predicted LOC from age at examination in days, as well as passive and active rotation deficits. CONCLUSION: Higher passive and active rotation deficits lead to longer LOC. However, longer lengths of care were associated with younger ages at examination, different from earlier studies.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of early immobilization and proper handling techniques in infants with Obstetric Brachial Plexus Injury (OBPI) in the first 2 weeks of life. METHOD: Six 1-day-old infants (2 males and 4...OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of early immobilization and proper handling techniques in infants with Obstetric Brachial Plexus Injury (OBPI) in the first 2 weeks of life. METHOD: Six 1-day-old infants (2 males and 4 females) with OBPI were included. The assessments were done at baseline, post-intervention, and 3-month follow-up, which involved a physical exam, Narakas classification, Active Movement Scale, and gross and fine motor skills evaluation. RESULT: All infants had upper Erb's palsy. They had statistically significant improvement in the Active Movement Scale scores post-intervention with a large effect size. These improvements were maintained at follow-up. All infants achieved age-appropriate gross and fine motor skills with the affected upper limb at 3 months of age. CONCLUSION: Early conservative physical therapy management had a statistically significant effect on enhancing spontaneous recovery and preventing further nerve injury in OBPI infants.
PURPOSE: This study aims to investigate the feasibility of the home-based parent- mediated intervention Naturalistic developmental behavioral intervention (HB-NDBI) in underserved Taiwanese families of children with Auti...PURPOSE: This study aims to investigate the feasibility of the home-based parent- mediated intervention Naturalistic developmental behavioral intervention (HB-NDBI) in underserved Taiwanese families of children with Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and explore its effects on children's developmental skills and parents' parenting stress. METHOD: 24 underserved Taiwanese families of children with ASD (mean age = 46.5 months) received 12-week HB-NDBI programs. Social Responsiveness Scale, Second Edition (SRS-2), Mullen Scales of Early Learning (MSEL), Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL/1.5-5), and Parenting Stress Index (PSI) were administered before and after the HB-NDBI programs. RESULTS: Following the HB-NDBI programs, significant improvements in social cognition, social communication subscales, receptive language subscale, internalizing, externalizing, and total behavioral problems scales of children, and release of parenting stress were observed. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated the feasibility of home-based parent-mediated intervention for underserved families in Taiwan. These promising results might facilitate the development of such interventions for underserved families.
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of an early intervention program, e-EARLY TOGETHER, that combines goal-oriented training, parental coaching, environmental enrichment in a telehealth ap...PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of an early intervention program, e-EARLY TOGETHER, that combines goal-oriented training, parental coaching, environmental enrichment in a telehealth approach in a low- and middle-income country. METHODS: Protocol for a randomized controlled clinical trial to evaluate the effectiveness of e-EARLY TOGETHER intervention compared to standard guidelines on outcomes related to development and performance in infants at high risk of cerebral palsy. DISCUSSION: This protocol will inform and enrich clinical practice related to early intervention in low- and middle-income countries. It is expected that the data obtained will contribute to the implementation of effective early intervention programs with positive and lasting results for the child, their family, and the community. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials: RBR-7WWJRQ3, registered May 10, 2023; WHO Trial Registration UTN Code U-1111-1286-4639.
PURPOSE: To quantify and explore parental perceptions of their experiences with their child's use of the Explorer Mini (EM) and a modified ride-on car (mROC) in young children with cerebral palsy. METHOD: Data were gathe...PURPOSE: To quantify and explore parental perceptions of their experiences with their child's use of the Explorer Mini (EM) and a modified ride-on car (mROC) in young children with cerebral palsy. METHOD: Data were gathered throughout a multisite, randomized, counterbalanced AB crossover 16-week clinical trial, wherein all participants used device A (EM) and device B (mROC) for 8-weeks each. Semistructured parent interviews were conducted at baseline (T0), post-intervention period 1 (T1), and post-intervention period 2 (T2). The Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count program was used to objectively analyze the transcribed interviews. RESULTS: Twenty-four child-parent dyads participated in the study. Parental perceptions were related to children's gross motor abilities, cognitive development scores, and device use order (EM-mROC or mROC-EM). CONCLUSIONS: Parents were positive about a potential means of helping their children. While most preferred the EM, opinions were contingent on the PM device, device use order, and child-centered factors.
PURPOSE: The purpose of this pilot case series was to describe participation in high-intensity gait training (HIGT) and changes in (1) gait speed/endurance, (2) aerobic capacity, and (3) walking ability in children diagn...PURPOSE: The purpose of this pilot case series was to describe participation in high-intensity gait training (HIGT) and changes in (1) gait speed/endurance, (2) aerobic capacity, and (3) walking ability in children diagnosed with cerebral palsy (CP). METHODS: Three children with CP participated in HIGT for 5weeks in lieu of their routine physical therapy. Outcome measures were collected at baseline and post-intervention. RESULTS: Post-intervention, all had at or above the minimal clinically important difference for 10-m walk test speed and 6-minute walk test distance. Two participants performed above the minimal clinically important difference in 7.5-m shuttle run test level and Gross Motor Function Measure-88 Dimension E score. CONCLUSION: This case series demonstrates short-term improvements in the walking outcome measures with participation in HIGT. Further research is needed with a larger and more diverse randomized controlled trial to determine parameters and long-term effects of HIGT in this population.