The SPORTS Participation Framework: illuminating the pathway for people with disability to enter into, participate in, and excel at sport.

Background: Sports participation for people with disabilities exists at the intersection of health, sport, and education sectors. However, no common framework and language exist to describe the stages of sports participation.

Objective: To present the background to the SPORTS Participation Framework, and how it can be used to illuminate the path that people with disability may travel to enter into, participate in, and enjoy and excel at all levels of sport.

Exercise testing for children with cystic fibrosis: A systematic review.

Background: Exercise testing is routinely used to measure exercise capacity in children with cystic fibrosis (CF). Various tests are available, however the psychometric properties of these measures have not been systematically reviewed for this population.

Method: A systematic search of electronic databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Medline, CINHAL, Cochrane, and PEDro) was performed to identify papers that: (a) reported original psychometric data, (b) examined a measure of exercise capacity, (c) examined children with CF aged eight to 18 years; and (d) were published in English after 1950.

CyFiT telehealth: protocol for a randomised controlled trial of an online outpatient physiotherapy service for children with cystic fibrosis.

Background: Telehealth and telemonitoring is an emerging area of study in people with cystic fibrosis (CF), with the potential of increasing access to care, and minimising infection control risks to patients without compromising their health outcomes. To date, limited evidence is available to support the use of telehealth in paediatric population with CF in a clinical setting. This study aims to investigate the utility of a multimodal telehealth-based outpatient physiotherapy service and assess its effect on quality of life, functional exercise capacity, hospital admission and intravenous antibiotic requirements, lung function, processes of care, participation in activities of daily living, and health economics associated with operating an innovative service.

Reproducibility of Muscle Strength Testing for Children with Spina Bifida.

Aims: Examine the inter-rater reliability of the Daniels and Worthingham (D&W) manual muscle test (MMT) protocol for children with spina bifida between experienced and novice physiotherapists.

Methods: Thirteen children with spina bifida (two males) aged 6 to 18 years were recruited from a spina bifida service in a state-wide tertiary children's hospital. Each child had the muscle strength of 19, and lower limb muscles were measured bilaterally by one experienced and one novice physiotherapist using the D&W MMT protocol.

A touchy topic: tactile assessment among pediatric therapists.

Purpose: Tactile impairments affect over 77% of children with unilateral cerebral palsy (CP). This study aimed to examine the current practices of pediatric therapists in relation to tactile assessment and the barriers to carrying out tactile assessment in children with CP.

Method: The study was in two parts.

Perspectives on Postural Control Dysfunction to Inform Future Research: A Delphi Study for Children With Cerebral Palsy.

Objective: To identify whether consensus can be achieved in how clinicians and researchers define, describe, assess, and treat postural control dysfunction in children with cerebral palsy (CP).

Design: Delphi study with 3 iterative rounds.

Setting: Electronic survey.

Exercise interventions improve postural control in children with cerebral palsy: a systematic review.

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and effectiveness of exercise interventions that may improve postural control in children with cerebral palsy (CP).

Method: A systematic review was performed using American Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine (AACPDM) and Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) methodology. Six databases were searched using the following keywords: ('cerebral palsy' OR 'brain injury'); AND ('postur*' OR 'balance' OR 'postural balance' [MeSH]); AND ('intervention' OR 'therapy' OR 'exercise' OR 'treatment').

"Strong and steady": a community-based strength and balance exercise group for children with cerebral palsy.

Purpose: This study investigated the effect of an eight-week community-based strength and balance exercise group for children with cerebral palsy (CP).

Method: Ten children with CP participated in the study (8-15 years; six male; GMFCS I = 6, II = 4; five diplegia; five hemiplegia). Muscle strength was assessed using dynamometry and functional strength tests (seated throw, distance jump, vertical jump).

Reproducibility of tactile assessments for children with unilateral cerebral palsy.

A systematic review identified tactile assessments used in children with cerebral palsy (CP), but their reproducibility is unknown. Sixteen children with unilateral CP and 31 typically developing children (TDC) were assessed 2-4 weeks apart. Test-retest percent agreements within one point for children with unilateral CP (and TDC) were Semmes-Weinstein monofilaments: 75% (90%); single-point localization: 69% (97%); static two-point discrimination: 93% (97%); and moving two-point discrimination: 87% (97%).

Tactile function in children with unilateral cerebral palsy compared to typically developing children.

Purpose: Tactile deficits have been understudied in children with unilateral cerebral palsy (UCP) using a limited range of tactile assessments. This study aims to characterize performance across a comprehensive battery of tactile registration and perception assessments in children with UCP and typically developing children (TDC).

Methods: Fifty-two children with UCP (Gross Motor Function Classification System I = 34, II = 18; Manual Ability Classification System I = 36, II = 16) and 34 TDC were assessed using Semmes Weinstein Monofilaments (tactile registration), and single-point localization, double simultaneous, static and moving two-point discrimination, stereognosis, and texture perception (tactile perception).

Functional performance in young Australian children with achondroplasia.

Aim: The aim of this study was to determine population-specific developmental milestones for independence in self-care, mobility, and social cognitive skills in children with achondroplasia, the most common skeletal dysplasia.

Methods: Population-based recruitment from October 2008 to October 2010 identified 44 Australian children with achondroplasia aged 3 to 7 years. Consenting parents of 35 children (16 males, 19 females 14 aged 3y; 12 aged 5y; nine aged 7y) reported their child's self-care, mobility, and social cognition function using the Functional Independence Measure for Children (WeeFIM-II) at the ages of 3 (n=14), 5 (n=12), or 7 (n=9) years.

Tactile assessment in children with cerebral palsy: a clinimetric review.

This review evaluates the clinimetric properties of tactile assessments for children with cerebral palsy. Assessment of registration was reported using Semmes Weinstein Monofilaments (SWMs) or exteroception. Assessment of two-point discrimination was reported using the Disk-Criminator® or paperclip methods; Single point localization and double simultaneous were reported from the Neurosensory Motor Developmental Assessment (NSMDA); graphaesthesia was reported from the Sensory Integration and Praxis Test (SIPT); and stereognosis was assessed using Manual Form Perception from the SIPT and the Klingels method (Klingels, K.