Estimation of standing height in spina bifida: model development and validation.

Objective: Childhood standing height has been estimated from arm span-related (height) models. The authors aimed to develop and cross-validate a height model in individuals with spina bifida (SB) and examine the accuracy of existing height models.

Methods: Participants were individuals with sacral and low-lumbar SB (n = 14) and non-SB (n = 83), 7-16 years old.

Cross-cultural adaptation and concurrent validity of the children's OMNI scale of perceived exertion for Arm-Crank activity in Spina Bifida.

Purpose: To perform a cross-cultural adaptation of the OMNI verbal descriptors to Brazilian-Portuguese and examine the validity of the Brazilian version for arm-crank activity.

Materials And Methods: Cross-cultural adaptation stages were: permission, translation, synthesis, back translation, expert committee review, pretesting, and submission and appraisal. For the concurrent validity, a Brazilian OMNI-Wheel scale was used to obtain rating of perceived exertion for the overall body (RPE) and arms (RPE) in participants ( = 9, 10-17 years) with spina bifida.

Cardiac Autonomic Modulation of Heart Rate Recovery in Children with Spina Bifida.

We aimed to analyse cardiac autonomic control by assessing the post-exercise heart rate recovery (HRR) and physical fitness in children and adolescents with spina bifida (SB), compared to participants with typical development. A total of 124 participants, 42 with spina bifida (SB group) and 82 typical developmental controls (CO group) performed the arm cranking exercise test with a gas analysis system. HRR was determined at the first (HRR_1) and second (HRR_2) minute at recovery phase.

Damaged cardiovascular autonomic control in wheelchair-using children and adolescents with myelomeningocele: a case-control study.

Background: Cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction is associated with the development of cardiovascular diseases, but little is known about it in children and adolescents with myelomeningocele.

Objective: This study investigated the cardiovascular autonomic function in wheelchair-using children and adolescents with myelomeningocele.

Methods: Twenty-two participants were assigned to one of two groups: myelomeningocele group (n=11) and Control group (n=11).

Isometric muscle strength in children and adolescents using Handheld dynamometry: reliability and normative data for the Brazilian population.

Objective: Isometric muscle strength measured by Handheld dynamometer indicates physical ability. There is no normative data for the Brazilian population. This study aims (a) to describe the development of isometric muscle strength in healthy children and adolescents 5-15 years of age; (b) to evaluate Handheld dynamometer inter and intra-rater reliability.

The Use of a Wheelchair Propulsion Field Test to Determine Peak Heart Rate in Children and Adolescents With Myelomeningocele.

Purpose: We analyzed the evolution and pattern of heart rate (HR) during the 12-minute wheelchair propulsion field test (WPFT) and compared the peak HR (HR) from the WPFT to the HR obtained in the progressive cardiopulmonary exercise test on arm cranking ergometer (ACT). We aimed to determine if the field test detects the HR consistently and could be used in clinical practice.

Methods: Eleven wheelchair-using children and adolescents with myelomeningocele (aged 8-15 y) performed a maximal ACT and a 12-minute WPFT.

Beneficial effects of ankle-foot orthosis daytime use on the gait of Duchenne muscular dystrophy patients.

Background: Orthosis use prevents muscle contracture and prolongs ambulation in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). However, its biomechanical effects on gait are unclear. This study assessed the effects of daytime and night-time use of Articulated Ankle Foot Orthosis (AFO) on kinematic, kinetic and spatial/temporal gait parameters of DMD patients.