Test-Retest Reliability of Handgrip Strength Measurement in Children and Preadolescents.

The reliability of handgrip strength (HGS) measurement has been confirmed in adults but has been sparsely addressed in pediatric populations. The aims of this study are twofold: to determine whether sex, age and/or hand-dominance influence the test-retest differences and to establish the reliability level of the HGS measurement in typical developing pediatric participants. A total of 338 participants aged 7-13 years were tested using a digital handgrip strength (HGS) dynamometer (Jamar Plus+ Dynamometer) by the same rater on two testing trials separated by a one-day interval between sessions.

Assessment of Maximal Isometric Hand Grip Strength in School-aged Children.

Background: Hand grip strength (HGS) test is commonly used as an indicator of overall muscle strength in medical and sport practices. Recently, several studies have proposed that the measurement of the maximal HGS depends on dynamometer's handle position. The aim of the present study was to identify the optimal handle position to obtain maximal HGS using the hand grip dynamometer (HGD) for school-aged children.

Improved parent-reported mobility and achievement of individual goals on activity and participation level after functional power-training in young children with cerebral palsy: a double-baseline controlled trial.

Background: In children with cerebral palsy (CP), strength training programs to improve walking capacity and participation in activities of daily living are commonly used in clinical practice, despite lacking evidence of its effectiveness. It has been suggested that strength training with high movement velocity could be more effective than traditional resistance training to improve functional abilities such as walking. In a recently published study, we have demonstrated the positive effects of functional high-velocity resistance (power) training on muscle strength and walking capacity in young children with CP.

Disability in Adolescents and Adults Diagnosed With Hypermobility-Related Disorders: A Meta-Analysis.

Objective: To (1) establish the association of the most common reported symptoms on disability; and (2) study the effectiveness of treatment on disability in patients with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome-hypermobility type (EDS-HT)/hypermobility syndrome (HMS).

Data Sources: An electronic search (Medical Subject Headings and free-text terms) was conducted in bibliographic databases CENTRAL/MEDLINE.

Study Selection: Comparative, cross-sectional, longitudinal cohort studies and (randomized) controlled trials including patients with HMS/EDS-HT aged ≥17 years were considered for inclusion.

Lower Extremity Handheld Dynamometry Strength Measurement in Children With Cerebral Palsy.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the evidence on reliability of handheld dynamometry protocols to quantify maximal isometric strength of the muscles of the lower extremities of children with cerebral palsy.

Methods: A systematic search of Cochrane, MEDLINE, CINAHL, and PubMed up to December 2013 and best-evidence synthesis were performed.

Results: Seven eligible studies were identified.

Isometric muscle strength and mobility capacity in children with cerebral palsy.

Purpose: To determine the relationship between isometric leg muscle strength and mobility capacity in children with cerebral palsy (CP) compared to typically developing (TD) peers.

Method: Participants were 62 children with CP (6-13 years), able to walk with (n = 10) or without (n = 52) walking aids, and 47 TD children. Isometric muscle strength of five muscle groups of the leg was measured using hand-held dynamometry.

Instruments for the evaluation of motor abilities for children with severe multiple disabilities: A systematic review of the literature.

Based on a systematic review, psychometric characteristics of currently available instruments on motor abilities of children with disabilities were evaluated, with the aim to identify candidates for use in children with severe multiple (intellectual and motor) disabilities. In addition, motor abilities are essential for independent functioning, but are severely compromised in these children. The methodological quality of all studies was evaluated with the Consensus Based Standards for the Selection of Health Status Measurement Instruments (COSMIN) Checklist; overall levels of evidence per instrument were based on the Cochrane Back Review Group strategy.

Walking capacity of children with clubfeet in primary school: something to worry about?

Although the main aim of clubfoot correction is to create a foot without limitations in daily activities and sport, studies on the walking capacity of children with corrected clubfeet are rare. In this cross-sectional study, the outcome of the six-minute walking test in 44 children with clubfeet (16 unilateral and 28 bilateral, mean age 8.57±2.

Physical fitness in children with developmental coordination disorder: measurement matters.

Children with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) experience considerable difficulties coordinating and controlling their body movements during functional motor tasks. Thus, it is not surprising that children with DCD do not perform well on tests of physical fitness. The aim of this study was to determine whether deficits in motor coordination influence the ability of children with DCD to perform adequately on physical fitness tests.

Upper extremity strength measurement for children with cerebral palsy: a systematic review of available instruments.

Background: In order to make inferences about strength related to development or treatment interventions, it is important to use measurement instruments that have sound clinimetric properties.

Purpose: The objective of this review is to systematically evaluate the level of evidence of the clinimetric properties of instruments for measuring upper extremity muscle strength at the "body functions & structures" level of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health for Children and Youth (ICF-CY) for children with cerebral palsy (CP).

Data Sources: A systematic search of the PubMed, EMBASE, OTseeker, CINAHL, PEDro, and MEDLINE databases up to November 2012 was performed.

Comparison of Structured Skill and Unstructured Practice During Intensive Bimanual Training in Children With Unilateral Spastic Cerebral Palsy.

Unlabelled: Background High-intensity training aims to improve hand function in children with unilateral spastic cerebral palsy (USCP). However, the extent to which skill training is required is not known. Objectives To compare the effects of intensive bimanual training with and without structured progression of skill difficulty, on manual dexterity, bimanual hand use, daily functioning, and functional goals in children with USCP.

Effect of addition of botulinum toxin-A to standardized therapy for dynamic manual skills measured with kinematic aiming tasks in children with spastic hemiplegia.

Objective: To measure the effect of intensive therapy and the lasting effect of a standardized functional training programme with vs. without the addition of chemodernervation of the muscles of the forearm and hand.

Patients And Methods: Twenty children with spastic hemiplegia, aged 4-16 years, were matched for baseline characteristics and randomized to standardized task-oriented therapy for 6 months with or without botulinum toxin injections.

Lower limb strength training in children with cerebral palsy--a randomized controlled trial protocol for functional strength training based on progressive resistance exercise principles.

Background: Until recently, strength training in children with cerebral palsy (CP) was considered to be inappropriate, because it could lead to increased spasticity or abnormal movement patterns. However, the results of recent studies suggest that progressive strength training can lead to increased strength and improved function, but low methodological quality and incomplete reporting on the training protocols hampers adequate interpretation of the results. This paper describes the design and training protocol of a randomized controlled trial to assess the effects of a school-based progressive functional strength training program for children with CP.

Kinematic aiming task: measuring functional changes in hand and arm movements after botulinum toxin-A injections in children with spastic hemiplegia.

Objective: To describe different aspects of a kinematic aiming task (KAT) as a quantitative way to assess changes in arm movements within 2 wks after botulinum toxin-A (BTX-A) injections in children with spastic hemiplegia.

Design: Intervention study randomized clinical trial; follow-up within 4 wks after baseline measurement.

Results: The KAT gave a high intraclass correlation on movement time, spread of end points (END), and index of performance effective (IP-E).

Children with spastic hemiplegia are equally able as controls in maintaining a precise percentage of maximum force without visually monitoring their performance.

In this study the hypothesis was tested that children with spastic hemiplegia rely more on externally guided visual feedback when trying to keep force constant with their affected hand (AH) as compared to their non-affected hand (NAH) and as compared to controls. An isometric force task in which a cursor had to be moved to a visually specified target that disappeared half way the task, was performed by 19 children with cerebral palsy (CP), spastic hemiplegia, aged between 5 and 16 years and an aged matched control group. It was found that the absolute deterioration of performance after withdrawal of target visualization did differ between AH, NAH and controls.