Volume 31, Issue 2, Part 2

03/27/19 • 30 min

Pediatric Physical Therapy - Pediatric Physical Therapy Podcast

1. Validity of the Early Activity Scale for Endurance and the Six-Minute Walk Test for children with cerebral palsy
Two well known tests of function in children with cerebral palsy: the Early Activity Scale for Endurance—EASE—and the Six-Minute Walk Test have been compared in a validation study for assessing children with cerebral palsy by functional ability level, sex, and age. The author of a new research paper in Pediatric Physical Therapy journal—Alyssa LaForme Fiss—tells the podcast about her findings.
INTERVIEWEE: Alyssa LaForme Fiss, PT PhD PCS, Associate Professor, Director of Physical Therapy Research, Mercer University, Atlanta, Georgia
CO-AUTHORS: Lynn Jeffries, Allison Yocum and Sarah Westcott McCoy

2. Effects of adaptive bungee trampolining for children with cerebral palsy: a single subject study
Since most children enjoy jumping on a trampoline this has been investigated as a therapy for children with cerebral palsy in research published in Pediatric Physical Therapy. Author Ashleigh Germain from Australia tells the podcast how she and her colleagues at Curtin University in Perth assessed the effects of using an adapted trampoline with an added “bungee” harness to protect the children.
INTERVIEWEE: Ashleigh M Germain, Curtin University of Technology, Western Australia, Australia
CO-AUTHORS: Marie Blackmore, Noula Gibson, Becky Newell and Sîan A Williams

3. Early intervention and postural adjustments during reaching in infants at risk of cerebral palsy
A program known as COPCA (COPing with and CAring for infants with special needs) developed in the Netherlands has been trialed for early intervention in infants at high risk of cerebral palsy. Mijna Hadders Algra, from Groningen tells the podcast how babies’ reaching behavior gave important insights into care in an investigation of the postural effects of a family-centered program applied at 3-6 months corrected age in infants at high risk of cerebral palsy.
INTERVIEWEE: Mijna Hadders-Algra MD, Professor of Developmental Neurology, University Medical Center, Groningen, Netherlands
CO-AUTHORS: Lieke C. van Balen, Linze-Jaap Dijkstra,Tineke Dirks, Arend F. Bos

4. Cardiopulmonary Exercise test using arm ergometry in children with Spina Bifida: a prediction model
An equation to help physical therapists optimize the physical development of patients with spina bifida—while avoiding exacerbating co-morbidities—has been developed in Brazil. The podcast hears from Ana Claudia Mattiello Sverzut—author of a study aimed at developing a prediction model for peak oxygen uptake in children with spina bifida—considering peak work load, peak heart rate, age, sex, anthropometric measures, walking level.
INTERVIEWEE: Ana Claudia Mattiello Sverzut PT PhD Physical Therapy Professor, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
CO-AUTHORS: Jana A.M. Tuijtelaars¬, Marisa Maia Leonardi-Figuiredo, Julio Crescencio, Lourenço Gallo Junior, Edson Zangiacomi Martinez, Manon Bloemen, PT, Tim Takken

5. Functional task training combined with electrical stimulation improves motor capacity in children with unilateral cerebral palsy: a single-subject design
Electrical stimulation was found to be an important method of improving motor capacity for children with unilateral cerebral palsy in some more research reported from Brazil. In the podcast Rejane Vale Gonçalves discusses her group’s investigation of whether gastrocnemius FES combined with training of functional tasks produced improvements in variables related to walking performance, capacity for propulsive force generation and changes in gross motor function of children with SUCP
INTERVIEWEE: Rejane Vale Gonçalves, PT PhD, Physical Therapy Professor, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
CO-AUTHORS: Sérgio Teixeira Fonseca, Priscila Albuquerque de Araújo, Thales Rezende Souza, Renan Alves Resende and Marisa Cotta Mancini

Previous Episode

Volume 31, Issue 2, Part 1

1. Does Weight Status Impact Metabolic Health in Adolescents When Controlling for Physical Fitness?
Adolescent overweight and obesity and its correlation with metabolic syndrome—the collection of signs from simple tests that predict for diabetes, heart disease and other non-communicable conditions later in life—has been researched by a group of pediatric physical therapists and a multidisciplinary team from Wisconsin and North Carolina who looked at whether being physically fit—even though you’re overweight—can protect you.
INTERVIEWEE: Stacy Stolzman PT, PhD Assistant Professor of Exercise Physiology, Concordia Wisconsin)
Co-authors: Joseph Skelton, April Harkins and Marie Hoeger Bement
Determines if adolescents who are fit with overweight/obesity are similar in their metabolic profile to adolescents who are fit and normal weight.

2. Relationship between Torticollis and Gastroesophageal Reflux Disorder in Infants
Torticolis in infants has an association with gastro-esophageal reflux disorder: GERD. Light has been thrown on the nature if that relationship by a new study just out in Pediatric Physical Therapy journal.
INTERVIEWEE: Deborah Bercik and Stephanie Westrick, Children’s Hospital for Rehabilitation, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland OH)
Co-authors: Susan Diemer, Sarah Worley, and Ryan Suder This study investigates a correlation between congenital muscular torticollis and gastroesophageal reflux disorder.

3. An Exploration of Parental Satisfaction with an Advanced Practice Physical Therapy Clinic in Pediatric Orthopedics A pioneering approach to pediatric orthopedic issues has been investigated in Dublin, Ireland. Instead of referring patients directly to a consultant orthopedic surgeon children are examined by a specialist physical therapy team. Marie O’Mir tells the podcast this has been a big success.
INTERVIEWEE: Marie O Mir BSc (Physio), MISCP, Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin, Dublin, Ireland
Co-authors: Cliona O’ Sullivan, Catherine Blake, and Olive Lennon
This study evaluated parent satisfaction of patients attending a novel advanced practice physical therapy clinic in pediatric orthopedics.

4. Physical Therapy Outcome Measures for Assessment of Lower Extremity Chronic Pain-related Function in Pediatrics.
New research on physical therapy outcome measures has been published in Pediatric Physical Therapy journal for assessing function in children who are chronically affected by lower extremity pain. Elizabeth Mirek tells the podcast about the utilization of previously established standard measures in evaluations for a growing population of children with chronic lower extremity pain.
INTERVIEWEE: Elizabeth Mirek PT, DPT, PCS, Department of Physical Therapy & Occupational Therapy Services, Boston Children’s Hospital
Co-authors: Deirdre Logan, Kimberly Boullard, Amber M. Hall, Steven J. Staffa, and Navil Sethna
Assesses the clinical utility of 5 PT outcome measures in quantifying functional changes in pediatric lower extremity chronic pain treated at a hospital-based interdisciplinary rehabilitation center.

5. Daily and weekly rehabilitation delivery for young children with gross motor delay: a research protocol
A study protocol has just been announced by a team led by Jill Heathcock who discusses their upcoming work on delivering rehabilitation for young children with gross motor delay
INTERVIEWEE: Jill Heathcock PT PhD, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
Co-authors: Rachel Ferrante, Sarah Hendershot, Kathleen Baronet, Gardenia Barbosa, Helen Carey, Nathalie Maitre, Warren Lo, Jeff Pan
The proposed project tests an hypothesis that frequency of rehabilitation is an important regulator of therapeutic response in infants and does not test the efficacy of a type of treatment.

Next Episode

Volume 31, Issue 3

INTERVIEWS IN THIS EDITION

Sandra Jensen-Willett PT MS PCS

Director of Physical Therapy, Munroe Meyer Institute, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha NE

Sitting Matters! Differences Between Sitters and Nonsitters at 6 Months’ Adjusted

“This retrospective study examines differences in prematurity-related risk and compares developmental outcomes between sitters and non-sitters at 6 months adjusted-age.”

OMAHA, NE—An investigation of factors influencing ability to sit upright at six months age—noted from neonatal intensive care unit follow up among infants born preterm or those considered to be at risk of developmental delay—show that motor function drives early development.

Afnan Gmmash BSPT MS, Pediatric Physical Therapist and PhD Candidate, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington

Early Intervention Therapy Services for Infants With or at Risk for Cerebral Palsy

“The purpose of this study was to explore the practices physical therapists and occupational therapists use in early intervention for infants with or at risk for cerebral palsy.”

LEXINGTON KY—Infant showing early signs of cerebral palsy—or who are assessed as being at high risk—were found to benefit from early intervention.

Steven Cisco DPT, Seattle Children’s Hospital, Seattle, Washington

Distance-Based Throwing Programs for Baseball Players From Little League to High School

“Our goal is to create a guide for rehabilitation specialists and players to return to throwing as quickly and safely as possible”

SEATTLE, WA—Children with sports injuries benefited from the best recovery exercises to do to recover by using an evidence-based “Throwing Progam” for injured ball-game players.

Karina Amani Zapata DPT PhD, Research Therapist and Physical Therapist, Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children, Dallas

Physical Therapy Scoliosis-Specific Exercises May Reduce Curve Progression in Mild Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis Curves

“To evaluate the curve magnitude in participants with mild adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) at high risk of progression who received outpatient physical therapy scoliosis-specific exercises (PSSE).”

DALLAS, TX—Physical therapy success was assessed in patients with scoliosis by measuring the extent to which patients who systematically received physical therapy exercises for scoliosis actually succeeded in getting measurable reductions of curve progression—compared to patients in the control group who were simply observed.

Kara L. Lardinois PT, DPT, C/NDT; Duke University Medical Center, Durham NC

Physical Therapy for a Patient With Alternating Hemiplegia of Childhood: A Case Report

The purpose of this case report is to present an example of physical therapy evaluation, intervention and outcomes for a child with alternating hemiplegia of childhood

DURHAM, NC—A case report throws light on the key role of the physical therapy elements of care for children with the rare, many-faceted and clinically variable condition: Alternating Hemiplegia of Childhood.

Amy Bailes PT, PhD, Physical Therapist, Division of Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH

Documenting physical therapy dose for individuals with cerebral palsy: A quality improvement initiative

This report describes the quality improvement activities used to improve treatment dose documentation for individuals with cerebral palsy and to describe insights gained from this project.

CINCINNATI, OH—Data from therapy sessions among thousands of patients with cerebral palsy have generated clear procedures to optimize care, resulting in significantly improved quality of physical therapy.