Bimanual Capacity of Children With Cerebral Palsy: Intra- and Interrater Reliability of a Revised Edition of the Bimanual Fine Motor Function Classification.

Aims: To develop a revised edition of the Bimanual Fine Motor Function (BFMF 2), as a classification of fine motor capacity in children with cerebral palsy (CP), and establish intra- and interrater reliability of this edition.

Methods: The content of the original BFMF was discussed by an expert panel, resulting in a revised edition comprising the original description of the classification levels, but in addition including figures with specific explanatory text. Four professionals classified fine motor function of 79 children (3-17 years; 45 boys) who represented all subtypes of CP and Manual Ability Classification levels (I-V).

Bimanual Fine Motor Function (BFMF) Classification in Children with Cerebral Palsy: Aspects of Construct and Content Validity.

Unlabelled: The Bimanual Fine Motor Function (BFMF) is currently the principal classification of hand function recorded by the Surveillance of Cerebral Palsy in Europe (SCPE) register. The BFMF is used in a number of epidemiological studies, but has not yet been validated.

Aims: To examine aspects of construct and content validity of the BFMF.

Stability of motor function and associated impairments between childhood and adolescence in young people with cerebral palsy in Europe.

Aim: The aim of the study was to investigate whether impairments associated with cerebral palsy were stable between childhood and adolescence.

Method: The Study of Participation of Children with Cerebral Palsy Living in Europe (SPARCLE) longitudinal study was conducted in nine European regions. In total, 818 children aged 8 to 12 years were randomly selected from population-based registers; 594 (73%) were followed up at the age of 13 to 17 years (344 males, 250 females; median age 10 y 4 mo) Research associates visited them in their homes and recorded their motor function and additional impairments.

Children who had congenital torticollis as infants are not at higher risk for a delay in motor development at preschool age.

Objective: To investigate whether congenital muscular torticollis (CMT) or the time in a prone position as an infant had any influence on motor development at preschool age.

Design: A case-control study.

Participants: Eighty-one children who had participated in a previous study that investigated motor development in infants with CMT and a control group of infants without CMT.

Muscle strength, physical fitness and well-being in children and adolescents with juvenile idiopathic arthritis and the effect of an exercise programme: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Decreased muscle strength, fitness and well-being are common in children and adolescents with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) compared to healthy peers. Biological drugs have improved health in children with JIA, but despite this pain is still a major symptom and bone health is reported as decreased in the group. The improvement made by the biological drugs makes it possible to more demanding exercises.

A pilot study on changes in passive range of motion in the cervical spine, for children aged 0-5 years.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the values for passive range of motion (PROM) in rotation and lateral flexion of the neck, for children aged 3.5-5 years, and to compare the results with the measurements carried out on the same group of children as infants.

Method: Twenty-three children (10 females) were assessed in PROM in rotation and lateral flexion of the neck.

Pain, balance, activity, and participation in children with hypermobility syndrome.

Purpose: To describe hypermobility, balance, pain, activity, and participation in children with hypermobility and compare these characteristics with those of a control group.

Method: Twenty children aged 8 to 16 years with hypermobility syndrome (HMS) or Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and a control group of 24 children of the same age participated in the study. Hypermobility was assessed according to the Del Mar scale, balance was assessed with the Bruininks-Oseretsky test of motor proficiency, and participation in daily life activities was assessed with the frequency of participation questionnaire.

Association between participation in life situations of children with cerebral palsy and their physical, social, and attitudinal environment: a cross-sectional multicenter European study.

Objective: To evaluate how participation of children with cerebral palsy (CP) varied with their environment.

Design: Home visits to children. Administration of Assessment of Life Habits and European Child Environment Questionnaires.

Bone health in children and adolescents with juvenile idiopathic arthritis and the influence of short-term physical exercise.

Purpose: To study bone mineral density (BMD) in 54 children and adolescents with juvenile idiopathic arthritis before and after a short-term exercise program.

Methods: Fifty-four children, 41 girls and 13 boys, median age 13.9 years, participated in a 12-week exercise program, with 33 children in an exercise group.

Evaluation of treatment strategies for muscle function in infants with congenital muscular torticollis.

This study focuses on the treatment of the muscle function imbalance and asymmetric head posture for infants with congenital muscular torticollis (CMT). The aim of this study was to compare treatment time for groups with different strategies for muscle function training. The treatment goal was to achieve a symmetric head posture.

Muscle strength and kinetic gait pattern in children with bilateral spastic CP.

Cerebral palsy is often associated with an abnormal gait pattern. This study put focus on relation between muscle strength and kinetic gait pattern in children with bilateral spastic cerebral palsy and compares them with a reference group. In total 20 children with CP and 20 typically developing children participated.

Stretching treatment for infants with congenital muscular torticollis: physiotherapist or parents? A randomized pilot study.

Objective: To investigate the time needed to achieve a good result in the range of motion (ROM) in the neck for infants with congenital muscular torticollis (CMT).

Design: Comparison of stretching treatments performed by physical therapists and parents.

Participants: Twenty infants (10 female and 10 male) with CMT.

Access of children with cerebral palsy to the physical, social and attitudinal environment they need: a cross-sectional European study.

Purpose: The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities requires states 'to ensure to persons with disabilities access, on an equal basis with others, to the physical environment, transportation, information and communications.' We explored whether this convention was respected for disabled children in Europe.

Method: One thousand one-hundred and seventy-four children aged 8-12 years were randomly selected from population-based registers of children with cerebral palsy in eight European regions.

Developmental coordination disorder and other motor control problems in girls with autism spectrum disorder and/or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

Examine the rate, predictors, and effect on daily life skills of developmental coordination disorder (DCD) and other motor control difficulties in school age girls with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and/or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), in preschool age girls with ASD referred to a neuropsychiatric clinic, and in a community sample of school age girls. The girls (131 in total) were examined with standardised test of motor function and parent interviews and questionnaires. The school girls were compared with 57 age-and IQ-matched girls from the community.

Participation in life situations of 8-12 year old children with cerebral palsy: cross sectional European study.

Objectives: To evaluate how involvement in life situations (participation) in children with cerebral palsy varies with type and severity of impairment and to investigate geographical variation in participation.

Design: Cross sectional study. Trained interviewers visited parents of children with cerebral palsy; multilevel multivariable regression related participation to impairments, pain, and sociodemographic characteristics.

Validity and reliability of the muscle function scale, aimed to assess the lateral flexors of the neck in infants.

Infants with congenital muscular torticollis (CMT) often have an imbalance in muscle function in the lateral flexors of the neck, and the need for a valid and reliable assessment tool to determine muscle function in these muscles is essential. The lateral uprighting response is used to examine and to strengthen the sternocleidomastoid muscle. A Muscle Function Scale (MFS) has been refined and used for several years in a clinic for infants with CMT.

Are infants with torticollis at risk of a delay in early motor milestones compared with a control group of healthy infants?

Recently it has been claimed that infants with congenital muscular torticollis (CMT) are at risk of a delay in early motor milestones. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether infants with CMT are indeed at risk in comparison with a control group of healthy infants. A second aim was to investigate whether the time spent in a prone position and plagiocephaly had any influence on motor development.

Health status of children with cerebral palsy living in Europe: a multi-centre study.

Aim: The aim of this report is to describe the health status of 8-12-year-old children with cerebral palsy (CP) of all severities in Europe using the Child Health Questionnaire (CHQ).

Method: A total of 818 children with CP from nine centres in defined geographical areas participated. CP type, gross and fine motor function, additional impairments were classified and family data were obtained.

Behaviour in children with cerebral palsy with and without epilepsy.

The aim of the study was to describe behavioural problems in children with cerebral palsy (CP) with and without epilepsy. The children were sampled from the Western Sweden CP register and were part of a European Union project. The Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire and questions on epilepsy were answered by one parent of each child.

Muscle strength training to improve gait function in children with cerebral palsy.

The aim of the study was to investigate the influence of muscle strength training on gait outcomes in children with cerebral palsy. Sixteen children (two females, 14 males, Gross Motor Function Classification System levels I-II, mean age 12y 6mo, range 9y 4mo-15y 4mo) underwent muscle strength measurement using a handheld device, Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM) assessment, three-dimensional gait analysis, joint range of motion assessment, and grading of spasticity before and after 8 weeks of training. All participants had a diagnosis of spastic diplegia and could walk without aids.

Physical therapy treatment of back complaints on children and adolescents.

Study Design: A randomized controlled trial was performed.

Objectives: To evaluate how 2 different treatment options affect perception of health, pain, and physical functioning over time among children and adolescents with low back pain (LBP).

Summary Of Background Data: LBP among children and adolescents has increased.

Walking ability is related to muscle strength in children with cerebral palsy.

The purpose of this study was to assess the relation between muscle strength and walking ability in children with bilateral spastic cerebral palsy at GMFCS levels I-III. 55 children (mean age 10.7, range 5-15) were tested for muscle strength in eight lower limb muscle groups with a handheld myometer.

Frequency of participation of 8-12-year-old children with cerebral palsy: a multi-centre cross-sectional European study.

Participation in home, school and community is important for all children; and little is known about the frequency of participation of disabled children. Frequency of participation is a valuable outcome measure for evaluating habilitation programmes for disabled children and for planning social and health services. We investigated how frequency of participation varied between children with cerebral palsy and the general population; and examined variation across countries to understand better how the environmental factors such as legislation, public attitudes and regulation in different countries might influence participation.

Reliability and validity of the Child Health QuestionnairePF-50 for European children with cerebral palsy.

Objective: To evaluate the psychometric performance of the Child Health Questionnaire (CHQ) in children with cerebral palsy (CP).

Method: 818 parents of children with CP, aged 8-12 from nine regions of Europe completed the CHQ (parent form 50 items). Functional abilities were classified using the five-level Gross Motor Function Classification Scheme (Levels I-III as ambulant; Level IV-V as nonambulant CP).