Exploring the role of the rock climbing Treadwall as a novel therapy tool in physical rehabilitation.

Background: Rock climbing offers numerous health benefits, but accessibility and safety concerns limit its therapeutic use, especially for individuals with disabilities. No prior studies have explored the potential benefits of integrating the Treadwall, a rotating climbing wall with improved accessibility and safety, into rehabilitation protocols.

Objective: To evaluate the safety and feasibility of implementing a Treadwall climbing intervention as a novel therapy tool for children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy.

Clinical and functional characteristics of children and young adults with cerebral palsy and co-occurring attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

Background: Emerging research shows that children and young adults (CYAs) with cerebral palsy (CP) are at higher risk for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, little is known about the clinical and functional characteristics of CYAs with these co-occurring disorders.

Aim: To estimate associations between a diagnosis of ADHD among CYAs with CP and clinical and functional characteristics.

Safety and effectiveness of ethanol neurolysis with and without onabotulinumtoxinA in children with cerebral palsy.

Background: OnabotulinumtoxinA is commonly used to relieve spasticity in children with neurologic disorders. Ethanol neurolysis may be used to target more muscles but is less well studied, especially in pediatrics.

Objective: To determine the safety and effectiveness of ethanol neurolysis with onabotulinumtoxinA injections compared to only onabotulinumtoxinA injections for the treatment of spasticity in children with cerebral palsy.

Volunteering among youth with disabilities: a population-based study.

Purpose: The benefits of volunteering among youth are well documented. However, research is limited on volunteering among youth with disabilities. This study examined prevalence and associations of volunteering among youth with disabilities.

Variations in Healthcare Transition Preparation Among Youth With Chronic Conditions.

Introduction: Youth with special healthcare needs have low rates of healthcare transition services, which can affect lifelong functioning and quality of life. This study examines the variations in receipt of healthcare transition services among youth with special healthcare needs.

Methods: Data from the 2016-2018 National Survey of Children's Health (N=102,341) were analyzed in 2021.

Feasibility of a real-time pattern-based kinematic feedback system for gait retraining in pediatric cerebral palsy.

Introduction: Visual biofeedback of lower extremity kinematics has the potential to enhance retraining of pathological gait patterns. We describe a system that uses wearable inertial measurement units to provide kinematic feedback on error measures generated during periods of gait in which the knee is predominantly extended ('extension period') and flexed ('flexion period').

Methods: We describe the principles of operation of the system, a validation study on the inertial measurement unit derived knee flexion angle on which the system is based, and a feasibility study to assess the ability of a child with cerebral palsy to modify a gait deviation (decreased swing phase knee flexion) in response to the feedback.

Children with Cerebral Palsy and Unmet Need for Care Coordination.

Objective: To examine the physical and functional health of children with cerebral palsy (CP) and determine the prevalence and correlates of unmet need for health care coordination among this population.

Methods: We analyzed data from the 2016 to 2018 National Survey of Children's Health (n = 102,341). Bivariate and multivariable analyses were conducted to compare the prevalence of chronic health conditions, functional disabilities, and care coordination among children with and without CP.

Reduction of self-mutilating behavior and improved oromotor function in a patient with Lesch-Nyhan syndrome following botulinum toxin injection: A case report.

Lesch-Nyhan syndrome is a genetic metabolic disorder often involving dystonia and self-mutilating behavior. This case report describes a 13-year-old boy with Lesch-Nyhan syndrome and self-mutilating behavior who received botulinum toxin injections to his bilateral masseter muscles after failing multiple other treatments. Following injections, the patient had reduction in self-biting, along with improvements in speech, mastication and feeding observed in speech therapy.

Kinetic Gait Changes after Robotic Exoskeleton Training in Adolescents and Young Adults with Acquired Brain Injury.

Background: Acquired brain injury (ABI) is one of the leading causes of motor deficits in children and adults and often results in motor control and balance impairments. Motor deficits include abnormal loading and unloading, increased double support time, decreased walking speed, control, and coordination. These deficits lead to diminished functional ambulation and reduced quality of life.

Effects of Robotic Exoskeleton Gait Training on an Adolescent with Brain Injury.

Brain injury is one of the leading causes of motor deficits in children and adults, and it often results in motor control and balance impairments. Motor deficits include decreased walking speed, increased double support time, increased temporal and spatial asymmetry, and decreased control and coordination; leading to compromised functional ambulation and reduced quality of life. Robotic exoskeletons for motor rehabilitation can provide the user with consistent, symmetrical, goal-directed repetition of movement as well as balance and stability.

Visual kinematic feedback enhances the execution of a novel knee flexion gait pattern in children and adolescents.

Background: Altered knee motion is one of the most common gait deviations in pediatric populations with gait disorders. The potential for pediatric gait retraining using visual feedback based on knee kinematic patterns is under-explored.

Research Question: This study investigated whether pediatric participants could successfully modify knee flexion patterns in response to a visual kinematic feedback system (VKFS).

Kinematic and Functional Gait Changes After the Utilization of a Foot Drop Stimulator in Pediatrics.

Foot drop is one of the most common secondary conditions associated with hemiplegia post stroke and cerebral palsy (CP) in children, and is characterized by the inability to lift the foot (dorsiflexion) about the ankle. This investigation focuses on children and adolescents diagnosed with brain injury and aims to evaluate the orthotic and therapeutic effects due to continuous use of a foot drop stimulator (FDS). Seven children (10 ± 3.

The use of functional electrical stimulation cycles in children and adolescents with spinal cord dysfunction: a pilot study.

Background And Methods: Children who experience spinal cord injuries (SCI) may develop many complications, including loss of bone mass, osteoporosis, and pathological fractures. Additionally, patients with SCI often rate their quality of life as poor compared to non-injured peers. We examined the effect of functional electrical stimulation (FES) cycle exercise on bone mineral density (BMD) and quality of life (QOL) in six patients ranging in age from 9 to 20 years.

SCUBA diving for individuals with disabilities.

Self-contained underwater breathing apparatus (SCUBA) diving has become an increasingly popular recreational activity, enjoyed by millions of individuals. There has also been a growing interest in SCUBA diving in the disabled population for rehabilitation and recreation. This review discusses medical issues relevant to individuals with disabilities who wish to participate in SCUBA diving.