Interrater and Intrarater Reliability and Discriminant Validity of a Pediatric Lower Extremity Physical Therapy Clearance Test.

Background: Few studies have validated when an athlete can safely return to sports, and even fewer have identified when he or she no longer requires physical therapy after surgery. Discontinuing physical therapy is often dictated by insurance restrictions, but most studies have suggested that the decision should be multifactorial, stemming from patient-derived subjective outcome questionnaires, clinical examination, and isokinetic and functional testing.

Purpose/hypothesis: The purpose of this study was to establish discriminant validity and reliability of an objective physical therapy clearance (PTC) test in a clinical setting.

Assessment of posterior tongue mobility using lingual-palatal suction: Progress towards a functional definition of ankyloglossia.

Background: A functional definition of ankyloglossia has been based on assessment of tongue mobility using the tongue range of motion ratio (TRMR) with the tongue tip extended towards the incisive papilla (TIP). Whereas this measurement has been helpful in assessing for variations in the mobility of the anterior one-third of the tongue (tongue tip and apex), it may be insufficient to adequately assess the mobility of the posterior two-thirds body of the tongue. A commonly used modification is to assess TRMR while the tongue is held in suction against the roof of the mouth in lingual-palatal suction (LPS).