Exploring Objects With Feet Advances Movement in Infants Born Preterm: A Randomized Controlled Trial
The primary purpose of this study was to determine whether preterm infants born at less than 33 weeks of gestational age contacted a toy with their feet at 2 months of corrected age, before doing so with their hands, and whether movement training advanced feet reaching. Twenty-six infants born preterm were randomly assigned to receive [...]
A systematic review of the effectiveness of treadmill training and body weight support in pediatric rehabilitation.
Damiano DL, Dejong SL. This systematic review explores the strength, quality, and conclusiveness of evidence supporting use of treadmill training and body weight support in those with pediatric motor disabilities. A secondary goal was to ascertain whether protocol guidelines for BWSTT are available to guide pediatric physical therapy practice. There were 277 unique articles from [...]
Inter-tester reliability and precision of manual muscle testing and hand-held dynamometry in lower limb muscles of children with spina bifida.
Mahony K, Hunt A, Daley D, Sims S, Adams R The purpose of this study was to compare the reliability and measurement precision of manual muscle testing (MMT) and hand-held dynamometry (HHD) for children with spina bifida. Strength measures were obtained of the hip flexors, hip abductors, and knee extensors of 20 children. Inter-tester reliability [...]
The Test of Infant Motor Performance: Reliability in Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type I.
Finkel Richard S., Hynan Linda S., Glanzman Allan M., Owens Hollis, Nelson Leslie, Cone Stephanie R., Campbell Suzann K., Iannaccone Susan T., the AmSMART Group. This article evaluates the reliability of the Test of Infant Motor Performance (TIMP) in infants with spinal muscular atrophy, type I (SMA-I), and concludes that TIMP scores can be reliably [...]
Evaluation of Neuromotor Function in Infancy-A Systematic Review of Available Methods.
Heineman Kirsten R., Hadders-Algra Mijna. This review of literature evaluates the accuracy and reliability of 15 instruments to assess neuromotor functioning of infants.It concludes that the best predictions are achieved through a combination of multiple, complementary tools. Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics. 29(4):315-323, 08/2008 Link to abstract:
General movements in the first fourteen days of life in extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants
N.K.S. de Vries, J.J.H.M. Erwich and A.F. Bos. In this study, the General Movements (GMs) of nineteen infants were assessed on days 2, 4, 6, 10 and 14 with Prechtl's method and a detailed GM assessment which produced optimality scores (OSs). These were compared to obstetric and postnatal data and to neurodevelopmental outcome at 18 [...]
Joint stiffness and gait pattern evaluation in children with Down syndrome
Manuela Galli, Chiara Rigoldi, Reinald Brunner, Naznin Virji-Babul and Albertini Giorgio. This study offers an evaluation of typical gait pattern of subjects with Down syndrome and the quantification of their joint stiffness, linked with ligament laxity and hypotonia. Gait and Posture, 28 (3), 10/2008, 502-506, published online ahead of print. Link to abstract:
Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy for a Child with Hemiparesis: A Case Report.
Fergus Andrea, Buckler Jessica , Farrell Janeen, Isley Melinda, McFarland Meghan, Riley Bonnie. This case report describes the positive result of constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT) incorporated into a home program using a minimally restrictive constraint over an 18-month period. Pediatric Physical Therapy. 20(3):271-283, Fall 2008. Link to abstract:
Factors Affecting Shoulder Pain in Adolescents and Young Adults with Spina Bifida.
Roehrig Susan, Like Gayla. This reseach report aims to determine whether factors affecting shoulder pain in adults with spinal cord injury also affected adolescent and young adult manual wheelchair users with spina bifida. After studying 41 patients with spina bifida and rating their pain using the Wheelchair User's Shoulder Pain Index, it concludes that it [...]
Neonatal Ischemic Stroke: A Hypoxic-ischemic Injury To The Developing Brain
Lauren L. Jantzie, Kathryn G. Todd, Po-Yin Cheung. Interesting update about the injury, mechanism and outcomes, as well as the actual medical treatment. Future Neurol. 2008;3(2):99-102 Link to free fulltext article:
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