Development and validation of the MAnchester Needs Tool for Injured Children (MANTIC).

OBJECTIVE: To develop a measure of the needs injured children and their families' needs throughout recovery; The MAnchester Needs Tool for Injured Children (MANTIC). DESIGN: Tool development, psychometric testing. SETTING: Five children's major trauma centres in England. PARTICIPANTS: Children aged 2 to 16 years with any type of moderate/severe injury(ies) treated in a major trauma centre within 12 months of injury, plus their parents. METHODS: Stage 1a (Item generation): Interviews with injured children and their parents to generate draft items. Stage 1b (Co-production): Feedback about item clarity, relevance and appropriate response options was provided by parents and the patient and public involvement group. Stage 2 (Psychometric development): Completion of the prototype MANTIC by injured children and their parents with restructuring (as necessary) to establish construct validity. Concurrent validity was assessed by correlation with quality of life (EQ-5D-Y). MANTICs were repeated 2 weeks later to assess test-retest reliability. RESULTS: Stages 1a,b: Interviews (13 injured children, 19 parents) generated 64 items with semantic differential four-point response scale (strongly disagree, disagree, agree, strongly agree). Stage 2: One hundred and forty-four participants completed MANTIC questionnaires (mean age 9.8 years, SD 3.8; 68.1% male). Item responses were strong requiring only minor changes to establish construct validity. Concurrent validity with quality of life was moderate (r = 0.55, P < 0.01) as was test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.46 and 0.59, P < 0.001). Uni-dimensionality was strong (Cronbach's α > 0.7). CONCLUSION: The MANTIC is a feasible, acceptable, valid self-report measure of the needs of injured children and their families, freely available for clinical or research purposes.

Rehabilitation of Postural Control and Gait in Children with Cerebral Palsy: the Beneficial Effects of Trunk-Focused Postural Activities.

PURPOSE: In children with cerebral palsy (CP), with impaired trunk control and toe-walking, trunk-focused rehabilitation (TFR) based on postural activities was hypothesized to improve trunk postural control, early trunk deceleration, and ankle dorsiflexion braking during walking. Methods: Seventeen children with CP (5-12 years) walking autonomously were randomly assigned to TFR and then usual rehabilitation (TFR-UR) or vice versa (UR-TFR). RESULTS: Only after TFR was significant improvements in (i) the Trunk Control Measurement Scale score, postural sway on an unstable sitting device and standing, and (ii) early sternal and sacral decelerations and coupled negative ankle power due to plantar flexors. CONCLUSION: TFR improves trunk dynamics and consequently improves coupled toe-walking.

Elbow flexion contractures in neonatal brachial plexus palsy: A one-year comparison of dynamic orthosis and serial casting.

OBJECTIVE: Elbow flexion contractures are common complications of neonatal brachial plexus palsy, but evidence on how to treat these contractures is weak. This study compared the treatment of elbow flexion contractures using a dynamic orthosis or serial circular casting. METHODS: A randomized controlled trial was conducted with one-year follow-up. Children with an elbow flexion contracture of ≥30° were treated with either a night-worn dynamic orthosis for one year or serial casting for four weeks followed by night splinting. For pragmatic reasons, some participants were included in an open part of this study, this group was also analyzed separately. Degree of contracture and goal attainment scaling was evaluated at baseline and after 8, 20 and 54 weeks. RESULTS: 55 patients were analyzed in this trial, 32 of whom were randomized to treatment. At one-year follow-up of the randomized group, both dynamic splinting (median -8.5°, interquartile range [IQR] -13.5, -5) and serial casting (median -11.0°, IQR -16, -5) resulted in significant reduction of contracture (P < 0.001). The reduction was significantly greater with serial casting in the first 20 weeks, but not at one-year follow-up (P = 0.683). In the entire cohort, the individual functional goals had been reached in 24 out of 32 cases (80%) of dynamic splinting and 18 out of 23 cases (82%) of serial casting, respectively. CONCLUSION: The dynamic night orthosis is comparable to serial casting for treating elbow flexion contractures in children with brachial plexus birth injury. We recommend selecting one of these treatment modalities in close consultation with parents and patients.

Psychometric Evaluation of the ACHIEVE Assessment.

Objective: There has been a significant change within clinical practice in childhood disability from "treating" at the level of body function to ecological approaches that address the child's involvement in everyday life. Clinical assessment, and robust tools to support this, are of key importance. The aim of this study was to assess the psychometric properties of the ACHIEVE Assessment in a clinical dataset. The ACHIEVE assessment is a parent and teacher report of participation in home, school and community settings, important contributory factors for participation, and environmental factors. Design: ACHIEVE scores of children were collected from parents and teachers. The Rasch Rating Scale Model produced model estimates with WINSTEPS software. Setting: Clinical rehabilitation settings in Scotland (United Kingdom). Subjects: 401 parents and 335 teachers of 402 children participated resulting in a final sample of 736 responses. Children (78% male) were 4-17 years old (mean 7.91 years SD 2.61). Children had a range of disabilities including Developmental Coordination Disorder, Autism Spectrum Disorder, and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Results: The study includes a large clinical sample of children with disabilities. The results demonstrate that the ACHIEVE Assessment can provide unidimensional measurements of children's participation and important contributory factors for participation. Differential item functioning analysis indicated majority of items were comparable between parent and teacher report. Conclusions: The results confirm evidence of appropriate psychometric properties of the ACHIEVE Assessment. ACHIEVE is a comprehensive tool that enables identification of patterns and issues around participation for clinical and research purposes.

[Mental activity of the children during the early stage of rehabilitation after acute severe brain damage]. / Psikhicheskaia aktivnost' u detei na rannem étape reabilitatsii posle ostrykh tiazhelykh povrezhdenii golovnogo mozga.

INTRODUCTION: Children who have suffered brain damage form a large group of patients in need of rehabilitation. For rehabilitation, patients require not only surgical, neurosurgical, traumatological, pharmacological and other medical support, but also the creation of special conditions for psychiatric care, psychological and pedagogical correction of their psychophysical potential. Neurological, motor and mental consequences of severe injuries of the nervous system in children lead to a high degree of disability with a subsequent restriction of their life, where social maladaptation and a violation of the quality of life are the primary problems. An integrated approach with differentiated qualified help will increase the effectiveness of rehabilitation programs and help the children adapt when they return to their normal environment. AIM: To identify the characteristics of mental activity during the recovery of the level of consciousness in children after acute severe brain damage at an early stage of rehabilitation. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We examined 210 children under the age of 18 years with severe brain damage (traumatic brain injury, hypoxia, hydrocephalus) who were admitted for treatment and rehabilitation. Clinical-psychopathological, pedagogical methods were used for examination as well as diagnostic scales, questionnaires. RESULTS: The main differentiating signs were divided into three groups, depending on the mental activity of the child, the level of consciousness: Group 1 - 37 (18%) patients with mental activity with physical, cognitive and social abilities with the minimal '+' consciousness (a-/hyperkinetic mutism with emotional reactions, understanding of speech); 2-nd group - 67 (32%) patients with dominant manifestations of physical and cognitive abilities with the minimal '-' consciousness (a-/hyperkinetic mutism without emotional manifestations and understanding of speech); 3rd group - 106 (50%) children with a weak manifestation of mental activity (physical abilities) in a vegetative status/exit from a vegetative status. CONCLUSION: Three variants of mental activity in children after acute severe brain injuries were distinguished - from minimal involuntary reactions or their absence during the vegetative status/exit from the vegetative status to arbitrary actions according to the instructions of an adult with a minimum '+' consciousness. Understanding the dynamics of the recovery of children's mental activity after neurotrauma may make it possible to have a differentiated approach to psychiatric, psychological and pedagogical rehabilitation in order to correct the recovery of mental functions in pediatric patients, and to prevent the developmental disorders as the child grows.

[The psychological and psychiatric care for the children after severe spinal cord injury in the framework of the combined early rehabilitative treatment]. / Psikhologicheskaia i psikhiatricheskaia pomoshch' detiam posle tiazheloi pozvonochno-spinnomozgovoi travmy v ramkakh kompleksnogo podkhoda k rannei reabilitatsii.

BACKGROUND: The number of children who have received severe spinal cord injury (SCI) is steadily increasing during the recent years. The clinical picture of the post-injury condition is characterized by psychological and psychiatric disorders of varying severity. The literature publications concern emotions experienced after SCI by the adult patients whereas the data on the emotional disorders in the children and the approaches to their medical treatment are virtually absent. Nor is enough information about the status of the children in the early period after the spinal trauma treated jointly by a psychiatrist and a psychologist. AIM: The objective of the present study was the evaluation of the emotions and motivations in the children following the severe spinal trauma in the course of the early rehabilitation period as well as the development of an algorithm for the interaction of a psychiatrist and a psychologist in their joint efforts to manage the emotional and motivational disorders. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 35 children at the age from 8 to 18 years presenting with the severe spinal trauma who had been admitted for the treatment and rehabilitation based at the Research Institute of Emergency Pediatric Surgery and Traumatology, Moscow Health Department, during the period from 2016 to 2018. All the patients were examined by a psychiatrist and a psychologist in dynamics, viz. before the beginning of the rehabilitation course as well as within the 7-10th and 21-25th days after its initiation. The relevant diagnostic scales and questionnaires were used to detect depression and assess the severity of individual symptoms. RESULTS: Three groups of children who had experienced the severe spinal trauma were distinguished depending on the character of emotional disorders and their severity. Group 1 was comprised of the children with depression (n=6) including 2 boys and 4 girls at the age from 14 to17 years (17.2%). Group 2 consisted of the children with emotional disorders, such as high anxiety, impaired motivation with sub-depressive prerequisites (n=11) including 4 girls and 7 boys at the age from 12 to16 years (31.4%). Group 3 was composed of the children free from depression or depressive manifestations (n=18) including 15 boys, 3 girls at the age from 8 to17 years (51.4%). The algorithm for the combined rehabilitative treatment of the children during the early period after the severe spinal trauma with the participation of the psychiatrist and the psychologist has been developed. It was shown that the patients with a reduced intensity of emotional expression combined with a moderate or low level of anxiety and sufficient motivation needed the supervision by the psychologist alone. The children with a reduced intensity of emotional expression combined with a moderate or high level of anxiety and impaired motivation had to be supervised and treated by both the psychiatrist and the psychologist. The children with pronounced depression, high anxiety and low motivation required the supervision and treatment by a psychiatrist with simultaneous pharmacological correction of their condition. CONCLUSION: The results of this study give evidence that 48.6% of the children after severe spinal trauma suffer from the emotional and motivational disorders requiring specialized psychiatric care including the differentiated psychological and psychiatric treatment during the early rehabilitation period with the use of the algorithm for the combined treatment based on the joint efforts of the psychiatrist and the psychologist supplemented by the pharmacological correction.

Desenvolvimento de um protótipo lúdico para reabilitação motora de crianças com encefalopatia crônica não progressiva da infância / Development of a playful prototype for motor rehabilitation of children with Childhood Chronic Non-progressive Encephalopathy

NTRODUÇÃO: A Encefalopatia Crônica Não Progressiva da Infância - ECNPI é um transtorno complexo de grande impacto na vida da pessoa acometida, na dinâmica familiar, na sociedade e interfere nas políticas públicas, por representar uma condição clínica crônica complexa e que gera custos elevados para seu tratamento. As demandas de cuidados de crianças com ECNPI requerem a articulação de vários atores e cenários e impõem constantes desafios às famílias e aos profissionais de saúde, em particular para os fisioterapeutas, dada a necessidade de buscar um equilíbrio entre as atividades desempenhadas, a motivação das crianças e a eficácia da terapia estabelecida. Uma das tendências que vem revolucionando o campo da neuropediatria é a intervenção através de ambientes de Realidade Virtual (RV), utilizando-se o videogame como abordagem terapêutica. OBJETIVO: Desenvolver um protótipo lúdico, do tipo serious game, para o suporte no tratamento reabilitatório motor de crianças com ECNPI. MÉTODO: Estudo metodológico, que descreve os passos para o desenvolvimento desse protótipo lúdico, fundamentado na abordagem centrada no usuário. O recrutamento foi realizado em dois centros de reabilitação especializados em crianças neurotípicas e a etapa de desenvolvimento computacional foi realizada em uma instituição federal de ensino superior, com coleta de dados no período de janeiro de 2018 a abril de 2019, totalizando 32 participantes. A primeira etapa da pesquisa objetivou identificar as necessidades de reabilitação motora das crianças. Conduziram-se dois grupos focais, com a participação de oito mães de crianças com diagnóstico de ECNPI, para identificar as necessidades motoras de seus filhos. Realizou-se análise de contéudo do tipo dedutiva desses dados e elaboraram-se as categorias: o cuidado cotidiano das crianças com ECNPI; desafios motores das crianças com ECNPI; a importância da reabilitação e dificuldades no desenvolvimento de atividades lúdicas. A avaliação motora clínica foi realizada com 12 crianças com ECNPI, utilizando-se o instrumento Gross Motor Function Measure. Uma equipe multiprofissional, composta por quatro profissionais de saúde, também contribuiu para traçar o perfil das necessidades de reabilitação motora dessas crianças. Ao término dessa primeira etapa, foi possível delimitar os conteúdos específicos da tecnologia com profissionais da área computacional que mapearam essas solicitações em requisitos funcionais e não funcionais presentes no protótipo. A terceira etapa constou de um pré-teste utilizando o protótipo lúdico, na qual participaram quatro crianças com diagnóstico de ECNPI e suas mães, bem como profissionais da equipe multidisciplinar. Esta fase objetivou validar a viabilidade do protótipo como ferramenta auxiliar para potencializar a reabilitação motora das crianças em sessões de fisioterapia. RESULTADOS: O protótipo apresenta um ambiente tridimensional, utilizando o sensor Kinect para a captura dos movimentos corporais, visando auxiliar no controle motor dessas crianças. Foram desenvolvidos três módulos: balões, figuras geométricas e corrida, ou seja, jogos com enfoque na estimulação motora ampla e fina, direcionados especificamente para as necessidades das crianças com ECNPI. O pré-teste mostrou o protótipo lúdico como altamente promissor. CONCLUSÃO: Os resultados desta pesquisa contribuem para apoiar o processo reabilitatório em fisioterapia neurológica infantil, proporcionando motivação e ludicidade nos atendimentos e, em conjunto, potencial para aprimorar as habilidades motoras das crianças em seguimento e fortalecer o cuidado integral dessa clientela

INTRODUCTION: Childhood Chronic Non-progressive Encephalopathy - CCNPE is a complex disorder that has a great impact on the life of the person affected by family dynamics and in society and interferes in public policies because it represents a complex chronicle clinical condition that generates high costs for its treatment. The demands of childcare with CCNPE require the articulation of several actors and scenarios and impose constant challenges on families and health professionals, in particular on physical therapists, given the need to strike a balance between the activities performed, the motivation of the children, and the efficacy of the established therapy. One of the trends that has revolutionized the field of neuropediatrics is the intervention through Virtual Reality (VR) environments, using videogame as a therapeutic approach. OBJECTIVE: To develop a playful prototype, serious game type, for support in the motor rehabilitation treatment of children with CCNPE. METHOD: Methodological study, which describes the steps for the development of this prototype ludic, based on the user-centered design approach. Recruitment was carried out at two rehabilitation centers specialized in neurotypical children and the step of computational development ocurred at a federal institution of higher education, with data collection from January 2018 to April 2019, totaling 32 participants. The first stage of the research aimed to identify the needs of children's motor rehabilitation. Two focus groups were conducted, with the participation of eight mothers of children diagnosed with CCNPE, to identify the motor needs of their children. Deductive data analysis was performed and the categories were elaborated: the daily care of children with CCNPE; motor challenges of children with CCNPE; the importance of rehabilitation and difficulties in the development of play activities. Clinical motor assessment was performed with 12 children with CCNPE, using the Gross Motor Function Measure instrument. A multiprofessional team, composed of four health professionals, also contributed to the profile of the motor rehabilitation needs of these children. At the end of this first stage, it was possible to delimit the specific contents of the technology with professionals of the computational area that mapped these requests of the functional and non-functional requirements present in the prototype. The third stage consisted of a pre-test using the play prototype, in which four children with a diagnosis of CCNPE and their mothers, as well as professionals from the multidisciplinary team participated. This phase aimed to validate the viability of the prototype as an auxiliary tool to enhance the motor rehabilitation of children in physiotherapy sessions. RESULTS: The prototype presents a three-dimensional environment, using the Kinect sensor to capture body movements, aiming to assist in the motor control of these children. Three modules were developed: balloons, geometric figures, and running, that is, games focused on gross and fine motor stimulation, specifically targeted to the needs of children with CCNPE. The pre-test showed the playful prototype as highly promising. CONCLUSION: The results of this research contribute to support the rehabilitation process in children's neurological physiotherapy, promoting motivation and playfulness in their assistance. The results also contributes to improve the motor skills of the children in follow-up and strengthening the comprehensive care of this clientele

Effect of ankle-foot orthoses on gait, balance and gross motor function in children with cerebral palsy: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of ankle-foot orthoses (AFOs) on gait, balance, gross motor function and activities of daily living in children with cerebral palsy. DATA SOURCES: Five databases were searched (Pubmed, Psycinfo, Web of Science, Academic Search Premier and Cochrane Library) before January 2018. REVIEW METHODS: Studies of the effect of AFOs on gait, balance, gross motor function and activities of daily living in children with cerebral palsy were included. Articles with a modified PEDRO score ≥ 5/9 were selected. Data regarding population, AFO, interventions and outcomes were extracted. When possible, standardized mean differences (SMDs) were calculated from the outcomes. RESULTS: Thirty-two articles, corresponding to 56 studies (884 children) were included. Fifty-one studies included children with spastic cerebral palsy. AFOs increased stride length (SMD = 0.88, P < 0.001) and gait speed (SMD = 0.28, P < 0.001), and decreased cadence (SMD = -0.72, P < 0.001). Gross motor function scores improved (Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM) D (SMD = 0.30, P = 0.004), E (SMD = 0.28, P = 0.02), Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory (PEDI) (SMD = 0.57, P < 0.001)). Data relating to balance and activities of daily living were insufficient to conclude. Posterior AFOs (solid, hinged, supra-malleolar, dynamic) increased ankle dorsiflexion at initial contact (SMD = 1.65, P < 0.001) and during swing (SMD = 1.34, P < 0.001), and decreased ankle power generation in stance (SMD = -0.72, P < 0.001) in children with equinus gait. CONCLUSION: In children with spastic cerebral palsy, there is strong evidence that AFOs induce small improvements in gait speed and moderate evidence that AFOs have a small to moderate effect on gross motor function. In children with equinus gait, there is strong evidence that posterior AFOs induce large changes in distal kinematics.

Hand-Use-at-Home Questionnaire: validity and reliability in children with neonatal brachial plexus palsy or unilateral cerebral palsy.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate construct validity and test-retest reliability of the parent-rated Hand-Use-at-Home questionnaire (HUH) in children with neonatal brachial plexus palsy or unilateral cerebral palsy. DESIGN AND SUBJECTS: For this cross-sectional study, children with neonatal brachial plexus palsy or unilateral cerebral palsy, aged 3-10 years, were eligible. MAIN MEASURES: The HUH, Pediatric Outcome Data Collection Instrument Upper Extremity Scale (neonatal brachial plexus palsy only), and Children's Hand-Use Experience Questionnaire (unilateral cerebral palsy only) were completed. The HUH was completed twice in subgroups of both diagnoses. Lesion-extent (indication of involved nerve rootlets in neonatal brachial plexus palsy as confirmed during clinical observation and/or nerve surgery) and Manual Ability Classification System levels (unilateral cerebral palsy) were obtained from the medical records. Spearman correlation coefficients between the HUH and all clinical variables, agreement, standard error of measurement, smallest detectable change and intra-class correlation were calculated. RESULTS: A total of 260 patients participated (neonatal brachial plexus palsy: 181), of which 56 completed the second HUH (neonatal brachial plexus palsy: 16). Median age was 6.9 years for children with neonatal brachial plexus palsy, 116 had C5-C6 lesions. Median age for children with unilateral cerebral palsy was 6.4 years, 33 had Manual Ability Classification System Level II. The HUH correlated moderately with lesion-extent ( rs =-0.5), Pediatric Outcome Data Collection Instrument Upper Extremity Scale ( rs = 0.6) and Children's Hand-Use Experience Questionnaire ( rs = 0.5) but weakly with Manual Ability Classification System levels ( rs = -0.4). Test-retest reliability was excellent (intra-class correlation2,1 = 0.89, standard error of measurement = 0.599 and smallest detectable change = 1.66 logits) and agreement was good (mean difference HUH1 - HUH2 = 0.06 logits). CONCLUSION: The HUH showed good construct validity and test-retest reliability in children with neonatal brachial plexus palsy or unilateral cerebral palsy.

[The rehabilitation of a child with a sotos syndrome. case report].

OBJECTIVE: Introduction: Sotos syndrome is a rare genetic disease characterized by various physical and mental development disorders. The article proposes and discusses the developmental changes of a child with cerebral gigantism after 8 months improvement according to the proposed scheme. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Material and methods: A six-months-old girl with Sotos syndrome was referred for rehabilitation due to a delay in development. After the neurokinesiological examination, the physiotherapy with use of the Vojta method was started, which after 5 months was supplemented with cranio-sacral and speech therapy. The effects of treatment were evaluated after 5 and 8 months using the Vojty method and 2 developmental profiles according to the Munich Functional Developmental Diagnostics. RESULTS: Results: At the beginning of the therapy, in the neurokinesiological examination was found: 6 abnormal postural positions with asymmetry, spontaneous motor activity at the level below 3 months of age, abnormal primitive reflexes. After 8 months of therapy, 4 abnormal postural positions without asymmetry, spontaneous motor activity at the level of 7.5 months of age, primitive reflexes appropriate to age were found in a neurokinesiological examination. In addition, the child's development was rated the highest in terms of social functions - at 10 months of age, while the age of perception, sitting, crawling, walking and speech function respectively on: 8,7,6,5 and 4 months of age. CONCLUSION: Conclusions: The proposed improvement procedure has contributed to the improvement of the quality of motor patterns and cognitive activation of the child.

Estratégias lúdicas na reabilitação motora de crianças com paralisia cerebral: revisão integrativa / Play therapy strategies in motor rehabilitation of children with cerebral palsy: an integrative review

Objetivou-se identificar e analisar as estratégias lúdicas utilizadas na reabilitação de desordens motoras em crianças com paralisia cerebral. Trata-se de uma revisão integrativa da literatura, conduzida por dois revisores independentes, nas bases de dados LILACS, EMBASE, Web of Science, CINAHL e PubMed. As buscas abrangeram o período de 2006 a 2017 e os idiomas português, inglês e espanhol. A estratégia de busca contemplou várias palavras-chaves, utilizando-se a abordagem PICO. Foram incluídos 20 artigos e os resultados mostraram-se satisfatórios na utilização de estratégias lúdicas, com foco na motricidade fina, motricidade grossa, equilíbrio e marcha das crianças com paralisia cerebral. Os videogames e os jogos de computador foram as estratégias mais utilizadas. Conclui-se que a incorporação do lúdico no tratamento de crianças com paralisia cerebral, desde que utilizado de maneira adequada, é importante para subsidiar a melhora das habilidades motoras e favorecer a relação terapeuta/paciente, tornando o tratamento mais dinâmico e eficaz.

The objective of this study was to identify and analyze play therapy strategies used in the rehabilitation of motor disorders in children with cerebral palsy. This is an integrative review of the literature, conducted by two independent reviewers, in the following databases: LILACS, Embase, Web of Science, CINAHL and PubMed databases. The searches covered the period from 2006 to 2017 and the Portuguese, English and Spanish languages. The search strategy included several keywords, using the PICO approach. Twenty articles were included that achieved satisfactory results for the use of ludic strategies, focusing on the fine motor skills, gross motor skills, balance and gait of children with cerebral palsy. Video games and computer games were the most commonly used strategies. It is concluded that the incorporation of ludic activities in the treatment of children with cerebral palsy, when properly used, is important in fostering the improvement of motor skills and favoring the therapist/patient relationship, making treatment more dynamic and effective.

Outcomes of gait trainer use in home and school settings for children with motor impairments: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: To summarize and critically appraise evidence regarding use of gait trainers (walkers providing trunk and pelvic support) at home or school with children who are unable to walk independently or with hand-held walkers. DATA SOURCES: Searches were performed in seven electronic databases including EBM Reviews, CINAHL, Medline and EMBASE for publications in English from database inception to November 2014. REVIEW METHODS: Included studies involved at least one child with a mobility limitation and measured an outcome related to gait trainer use. Articles were appraised using American Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine criteria for group and single-subject designs and quality ratings completed for studies rated levels I-III. The PRISMA statement was followed with inclusion criteria set a priori. Two reviewers independently screened titles, abstracts and full-text articles. RESULTS: Seventeen studies involving 182 children were included. Evidence from one small randomized controlled trial suggests a non-significant trend toward increased walking distance while the other evidence level II study (concurrent multiple baseline design) reports increased number of steps. Two level III studies (non-randomized two-group studies) report statistically significant impact on mobility level with one finding significant impact on bowel function and an association between increased intervention time and bone mineral density. Remaining descriptive level evidence provides support for positive impact on a range of activity outcomes, with some studies reporting impact on affect, motivation and participation with others. CONCLUSIONS: Evidence supporting outcomes for children using gait trainers is primarily descriptive and, while mainly positive, is insufficient to draw firm conclusions.

Service characteristics as predictors of parents' perceptions of child rehabilitation outcomes.

Medical rehabilitation arranged by the Social Insurance Institution of Finland is provided for children with severe disabilities. The study aimed to find out which service characteristics were associated with perceived outcomes of rehabilitation. Parents whose children had participated in rehabilitation (n = 496) responded to a mail questionnaire that included questions on service characteristics and possible outcomes. Based on factor analysis, four outcome variables were formed. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify the particular service characteristics that were associated with the perceived outcomes. The family's participation in rehabilitation planning and the child's willingness to participate in rehabilitation activities were associated with good outcomes. Having a contact person for the rehabilitation process predicted child and family empowerment outcomes. The results emphasize the significance of establishing a good partnership between the professionals and the family; of developing the contents of the rehabilitation program, so that they motivate the child, and of organizing service coordinators for each family.

Systematic review of power mobility outcomes for infants, children and adolescents with mobility limitations.

OBJECTIVE: To summarize and critically appraise the evidence related to power mobility use in children (18 years or younger) with mobility limitations. DATA SOURCES: Searches were performed in 12 electronic databases along with hand searching for articles published in English to September 2012 and updated February 2014. REVIEW METHODS: The search was restricted to quantitative studies including at least one child with a mobility limitation and measuring an outcome related to power mobility device use. Articles were appraised using American Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine (AACPDM) criteria for group and single-subject designs. The PRISMA statement was followed with inclusion criteria set a priori. Two reviewers independently screened titles, abstracts and full-text articles. AACPDM quality ratings were completed for levels I-III studies. RESULTS: Of 259 titles, 29 articles met inclusion criteria, describing 28 primary research studies. One study, rated as strong level II evidence, supported positive impact of power mobility on overall development as well as independent mobility. Another study, rated as moderate level III evidence, supported positive impact on self-initiated movement. Remaining studies, rated evidence levels IV and V, provided support for a positive impact on a broad range of outcomes from to International Classification of Functioning (ICF) components of body structure and function, activity and participation. Some studies suggest that environmental factors may be influential in successful power mobility use and skill development. CONCLUSION: The body of evidence supporting outcomes for children using power mobility is primarily descriptive rather than experimental in nature, suggesting research in this area is in its infancy.

Clinical tools that measure sitting posture, seated postural control or functional abilities in children with motor impairments: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: To identify and critically appraise clinical measurement tools used to assess sitting posture, seated postural control or functional abilities for children with motor impairment who are candidates for seating interventions. DATA SOURCES: Searches were run in 15 electronic databases along with hand searching. The search included articles published in English to December 2011. REVIEW METHODS: Key terms included: posture, sitting, sitting posture, seated posture, seated postural control, sitting position, seating, wheelchair(s), outcome and assess(ment). The PRISMA statement was followed with inclusion criteria set a priori. Two reviewers independently screened titles, reviewed abstracts and identified full-text articles that met criteria. Data extraction included tool description and clinical utility. Two quality-rating scales were used to evaluate conduct of the studies and psychometric properties of the tools. RESULTS: Of the 497 titles found in the search, 29 full-text articles met the inclusion criteria and 19 tools were identified. Tools represented all components of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health for Children and Youth (ICF-CY), with emphasis on body structure and function and activity components. Evidence supporting reliability and validity varied, with small sample sizes influencing quality ratings. Evidence of the tools' reliability was more prevalent than evidence of the tools' validity. Only four tools reported on responsiveness, an important consideration for evaluating change. Little information on clinical utility was provided. CONCLUSION: Although a number of tools are available, evidence supporting their use for seating interventions is limited, as is the evidence supporting the strength of their measurement properties. Few tools address participation, environmental factors or the child's and family's perspective.