Relationship between early infant motor repertoire and neurodevelopment on the hammersmith infant neurological examination in a developmentally vulnerable First Nations cohort.

Aim: To implement a culturally-adapted screening program aimed to determine the ability of infant motor repertoire to predict early neurodevelopment on the Hammersmith Infant Neurological Examination (HINE) and improve Australian First Nations families' engagement with neonatal screening.

Methods: A prospective cohort of 156 infants (55 % male, mean (standard deviation [SD]) gestational age 33.8 (4.

ACTIVE STRIDES-CP: protocol for a randomised trial of intensive rehabilitation (combined intensive gait and cycling training) for children with moderate-to-severe bilateral cerebral palsy.

Introduction: For children with cerebral palsy (CP), who are marginally ambulant, gross motor capacity peaks between 6 and 7 years of age with a subsequent clinical decline, impacting their ability to engage in physical activity. Active Strides-CP is a novel package of physiotherapy targeting body functions, activity and participation outcomes for children with bilateral CP. This study will compare Active Strides-CP to usual care in a multisite randomised waitlist-controlled trial.

Maintenance of Functional Gains Following a Goal-Directed and FES-Assisted Cycling Program for Children With Cerebral Palsy.

Purpose: This study investigated whether the functional improvements associated with functional electrical stimulation-assisted cycling, goal-directed training, and adapted cycling in children with cerebral palsy were maintained 8 weeks after the intervention ceased.

Methods: The intervention (2 × 1-hour supervised sessions and 1-hour home program/week) ran for 8 weeks. Primary outcomes were the Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM-88) and the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM).

Australian hip surveillance guidelines at 10 years: New evidence and implementation.

Optimum management of hip displacement in children with cerebral palsy (CP) is facilitated by an approach that focuses on anticipatory and preventive measures. Hip surveillance programs for children with CP were developed at the beginning of the new millennium, with the purpose of identifying hip displacement sufficiently early to permit a choice of effective management options. In the early years, hip surveillance was guided by epidemiological analysis of population-based studies of prevalence.

A qualitative analysis of the experiences of children with cerebral palsy and their caregivers in a goal-directed cycling programme.

Purpose: This qualitative thematic analysis aimed to capture the experiences of children with cerebral palsy (CP) and caregivers who completed an 8-week goal-directed cycling programme, to provide insights on engagement and programme feasibility.

Methods: Children with CP (6-18 years, Gross Motor Function Classification Scale (GMFCS) levels II-IV) and caregivers completed semi-structured interviews at the end of the training programme. Interview transcripts were coded by two investigators and systematically organised into themes.

Functional electrical stimulation cycling, goal-directed training, and adapted cycling for children with cerebral palsy: a randomized controlled trial.

Aim: To test the efficacy of functional electrical stimulation (FES) cycling, goal-directed training, and adapted cycling, compared with usual care, to improve function in children with cerebral palsy (CP).

Method: The intervention was delivered between 2017 and 2019 and included three sessions per week for 8 weeks (2×1h sessions at a children's hospital, and 1h home programme/week). Hospital sessions included 30 minutes of FES cycling and 30 minutes of goal-directed training.

Effects of a training programme of functional electrical stimulation (FES) powered cycling, recreational cycling and goal-directed exercise training on children with cerebral palsy: a randomised controlled trial protocol.

Introduction: Children with cerebral palsy (CP) experience declines in gross motor ability as they transition from childhood to adolescence, which can result in the loss of ability to perform sit-to-stand transfers, ambulate or participate in leisure activities such as cycling. Functional electrical stimulation (FES) cycling is a novel technology that may provide opportunities for children with CP to strengthen their lower limbs, improve functional independence and increase physical activity participation. The proposed randomised controlled trial will test the efficacy of a training package of FES cycling, adapted cycling and goal-directed functional training to usual care in children with CP who are susceptible to functional declines.

Efficacy of cycling interventions to improve function in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of cycling to improve function and reduce activity limitations in children with cerebral palsy; the optimal training parameters for improved function; and whether improvements in function can be retained.

Method: Six databases were searched (until February 2019) and articles were screened in duplicate. Randomized or quasi-randomized controlled trials and pre-post studies were included.

PREDICT-CP: study protocol of implementation of comprehensive surveillance to predict outcomes for school-aged children with cerebral palsy.

Objectives: Cerebral palsy (CP) remains the world's most common childhood physical disability with total annual costs of care and lost well-being of $A3.87b. The PREDICT-CP (NHMRC 1077257 Partnership Project: Comprehensive surveillance to PREDICT outcomes for school age children with CP) study will investigate the influence of brain structure, body composition, dietary intake, oropharyngeal function, habitual physical activity, musculoskeletal development (hip status, bone health) and muscle performance on motor attainment, cognition, executive function, communication, participation, quality of life and related health resource use costs.

Intrathecal baclofen therapy in paediatrics: a study protocol for an Australian multicentre, 10-year prospective audit.

Introduction: Increasing clinical use of Intrathecal baclofen (ITB) in Australian tertiary paediatric hospitals, along with the need for standardised assessment and reporting of adverse events, saw the formation of the Australian Paediatric ITB Research Group (APIRG). APIRG developed a National ITB Audit tool designed to capture clinical outcomes and adverse events data for all Australian children and adolescents receiving ITB therapy.

Methods And Analysis: The Australian ITB Audit is a 10 year, longitudinal, prospective, clinical audit collecting all adverse events and assessment data across body functions and structure, participation and activity level domains of the ICF.

Evaluation of group versus individual physiotherapy following lower limb intra-muscular Botulinum Toxin-Type A injections for ambulant children with cerebral palsy: A single-blind randomized comparison trial.

This study aimed to evaluate efficacy of group (GRP) versus individual (IND) physiotherapy rehabilitation following lower limb intramuscular injections of Botulinum Toxin-Type A (BoNT-A) for ambulant children with cerebral palsy (CP). Following lower limb BoNT-A injections, 34 children were randomly allocated to GRP (n=17; mean age 7y8m SD 2.0; 13 males; Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) I=5, II=8, III=4) or IND physiotherapy (n=17; mean age 8y7m SD 2.

Safety of Botulinum Toxin Type A for Children With Nonambulatory Cerebral Palsy.

Objective: To determine safety of intramuscular botulinum toxin A (BoNT-A) injections to reduce spasticity and improve care and comfort of nonambulatory children with cerebral palsy (CP).

Methods: Nonambulatory children with CP were randomly allocated to receive either BoNT-A (n = 23) or sham procedure (n = 18) in Cycle 1. In Cycle 2, the BoNT-A group received a second episode of BoNT-A (n = 20) and sham group received their first episode of BoNT-A (n = 17).

Australian hip surveillance guidelines for children with cerebral palsy: 5-year review.

Aim: To ensure hip surveillance guidelines reflect current evidence of factors influencing hip displacement in children with cerebral palsy (CP).

Method: A three-step review process was undertaken: (1) systematic literature review, (2) analysis of hip surveillance databases, and (3) national survey of orthopaedic surgeons managing hip displacement in children with CP.

Results: Fifteen articles were included in the systematic review.

Botulinum toxin A for nonambulatory children with cerebral palsy: a double blind randomized controlled trial.

Objectives: To examine the efficacy and safety of intramuscular botulinum toxin A (BoNT-A) to reduce spasticity and improve comfort and ease of care in nonambulant children with cerebral palsy (CP).

Study Design: Nonambulant children with CP (n = 41; Gross Motor Function Classification System level IV = 3, level V = 38; mean age 7.1 years, range 2.

GRIN: "GRoup versus INdividual physiotherapy following lower limb intra-muscular Botulinum Toxin-A injections for ambulant children with cerebral palsy: an assessor-masked randomised comparison trial": study protocol.

Background: Cerebral palsy is the most common cause of physical disability in childhood. Spasticity is a significant contributor to the secondary impairments impacting functional performance and participation. The most common lower limb spasticity management is focal intramuscular injections of Botulinum Toxin-Type A accompanied by individually-delivered (one on one) physiotherapy rehabilitation.

Australian Cerebral Palsy Child Study: protocol of a prospective population based study of motor and brain development of preschool aged children with cerebral palsy.

Background: Cerebral palsy (CP) results from a static brain lesion during pregnancy or early life and remains the most common cause of physical disability in children (1 in 500). While the brain lesion is static, the physical manifestations and medical issues may progress resulting in altered motor patterns. To date, there are no prospective longitudinal studies of CP that follow a birth cohort to track early gross and fine motor development and use Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) to determine the anatomical pattern and likely timing of the brain lesion.

Evaluation of the effects of botulinum toxin A injections when used to improve ease of care and comfort in children with cerebral palsy whom are non-ambulant: a double blind randomized controlled trial.

Background: Children with cerebral palsy (CP) whom are non-ambulant are at risk of reduced quality of life and poor health status. Severe spasticity leads to discomfort and pain. Carer burden for families is significant.

Hand positioning sense in children with spina bifida myelomeningocele.

This study was undertaken to establish whether children with myelomeningocele have abnormal kinaesthesia of the hands. Twenty-one children with myelomeningocele and 21 control children aged between six and 12 years were involved in the study. The level of kinaesthetic awareness in the hands was measured by examining the child's ability to copy hand positions, using visual cueing and kinaesthetic cueing.