Randomised clinical trial of group-based physiotherapy in extremely low birthweight children with minimal/mild motor impairment: A preliminary study.

Aim: Extremely low birthweight infants often present with mild neurodevelopmental impairments in gross motor function and postural stability in early childhood. The aim of the study was to undertake a randomised controlled trial to determine the short- and longer-term effects of group-based physiotherapy compared to standard care on performance in extremely low birthweight children with minimal/mild impairment.

Methods: Fifty children aged 4 years, born <28 weeks gestation and/or birthweight <1000 g with minimal/mild motor impairment were enrolled in a randomised controlled trial and randomly allocated to 6 weeks of group-based intervention (n = 24) or standard care (n = 26).

The comparison of perceived health-related quality of life between Australian children with severe specific language impairment to age and gender-matched peers.

Background: Children with specific language impairment often present with multiple comorbidities, which may adversely affect both participation in play and academic performance, potentially impacting a child's health-related quality of life. This study 1) explored the suitability of the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory™ Version 4.0 Generic Core Scales (PedsQL™) for use with a typically developing Australian control group, and 2) compared the health-related quality of life between a control group and Australian children with severe specific language impairment.

Goal Attainment Scaling to Evaluate Intervention on Individual Gains for Children Born Extremely Preterm.

Purpose: To investigate the effect of group-based physical therapy on individual gains among preterm and/or extremely low-birth-weight children with minimal or mild impairment at 4 years using Goal Attainment Scaling (GAS). To explore the relationship between GAS with motor and postural outcomes and effect of gender on GAS scores.

Methods: Twenty-four 4-year-old children (born <28 weeks' gestation and/or birth weight <1000 g) with minimal or mild motor impairment completed 6 group-based weekly intervention sessions and a goal-based home program.

Impact of Parent Practices of Infant Positioning on Head Orientation Profile and Development of Positional Plagiocephaly in Healthy Term Infants.

Aims: The influence of infant positioning on the development of head orientation and plagiocephaly is not clear. This study explored the relationship between infant body and head positioning, with the development of asymmetrical head orientation and/or positional plagiocephaly. Methods: Clinician measurement of head orientation profile and parent-reported infant positioning data were collected for 94 healthy term infants at 3, 6, and 9 weeks of age.

Positional plagiocephaly is associated with sternocleidomastoid muscle activation in healthy term infants.

Purpose: To explore the relationship between sternocleidomastoid activation and positional plagiocephaly in healthy full term infants.

Methods: Participants were 82 infants from a regionally based-longitudinal study of infant development. Sternocleidomastoid (SCM) activation was assessed using active head-righting responses of body-on-head with and against gravity and head-on-body against gravity at 3, 6 and 9 weeks.

Clinical assessment of head orientation profile development and its relationship with positional plagiocephaly in healthy term infants - A prospective study.

Background: Positional plagiocephaly refers to atypical development of an uneven head shape with asymmetrical head orientation as a post-natal risk factor. The development of the head orientation profile and its relationship with positional plagiocephaly are lacking.

Objectives: To explore the head orientation profile development and its relationship with positional plagiocephaly in healthy full term infants.

Health-related quality of life from the perspective of children with severe specific language impairment.

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and reliability of the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory(™) 4.0 Generic Core Scales (PedsQL(™)) for use by children with severe specific language impairment (SLI) and their parent, and to explore the health-related quality of life of children with severe SLI. We hypothesized that the PedsQL(™) would be a suitable measure, and identify lower health-related quality of life compared to the healthy population sample, particularly in school and social functioning.

Motor performance, postural stability and behaviour of non-disabled extremely preterm or extremely low birth weight children at four to five years of age.

Background: Extremely preterm or extremely low birth weight (ELBW) children who are non-disabled and otherwise healthy are at risk of neurodevelopmental impairments. Further understanding of these impairments is needed before commencement of formal education to optimise participation levels at a critical time point for these children.

Aims: To explore motor co-ordination, postural stability, limb strength and behaviour of non-disabled four to five year old children with a history of extreme prematurity or ELBW.

Early intervention services of children with physical disabilities: complexity of child and family needs.

Background/aim: To gain insight into the special issues confronting parents when accessing early intervention for children with physical disabilities where child and/or family characteristics indicate complex needs within the unique Australian context.

Methods: Qualitative interviews with families receiving early intervention for their children with physical disabilities (N=10). Families with complex circumstances such as having children with high support needs, those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and single-parent families were recruited to the study.

Fitness limitations in non-disabled extremely low birthweight adolescents.

Aim: This study aims to compare non-disabled otherwise healthy extremely low birthweight (ELBW) (<1000 g) children and term-born peers in an investigation of relationship between cardiorespiratory endurance and parent report of competence.

Methods: Forty-eight of 105 eligible ELBW 11- to 13-year-old children (27 male) and 55 term-born school peers (28 male) completed a 20-m shuttle run, anthropometric measures, respiratory function tests and the Motor Assessment Battery for Children. Parents completed the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL).

Perinatal events and motor performance of children born with ELBW and nondisabled.

Purpose: To explore the relationship between perinatal variables and motor performance in children who were born with extremely low birth weight (ELBW) and were nondisabled at 1 and 4 years.

Methods: Children without neurological or cognitive impairment (n = 48) born weighing less than 1000 g between 1992 and 1994 were assessed at 1 and 4 years corrected age using the Neurosensory Motor Developmental Assessment (NSMDA). Scores were used to categorize motor performance as normal or abnormal.

Perinatal factors in non-disabled ELBW school children and later performance.

Aim: To determine the association between perinatal events and subsequent motor performance, cardiorespiratory endurance and respiratory function in non-disabled extremely low birthweight (ELBW) school children at 12 years of age.

Methods: Forty-eight ELBW infants were included in this study. The Movement Assessment Battery for Children (MABC), VO(2) max score as a measure of cardiorespiratory endurance and respiratory function testing were performed and perinatal variables were extracted from the children's hospital files.

Comparison between utility of the Thai Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory 4.0 Generic Core Scales and 3.0 Cerebral Palsy Module.

Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is increasingly being considered in the management of patients with various conditions. HRQOL instruments can be broadly classified as generic or disease-specific measures. Several generic HRQOL instruments in different languages have been developed for paediatric populations including the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory 4.

Feasibility, reliability and validity of the Thai version of the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory 3.0 cerebral palsy module.

Background: Quality of Life (QOL) and Health-related Quality of Life (HRQOL) are now considered as necessary outcome measures for children with cerebral palsy (CP). Various reliable and valid condition-specific HRQOL tools are available for these children. One of these is Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) 3.

The long-term predictive validity of early motor development in "apparently normal" ELBW survivors.

Background: Within the able majority of ELBW survivors, there is a lack of identified predictors of which children will require extra support despite having escaped significant disability.

Aims: Investigate the predictive validity of early motor scores, compared to that of perinatal descriptors or early growth, on long-term motor impairment in non-disabled ELBW (<1000g) children.

Study Design: Prospective longitudinal study.

Identifying assessment measures and interventions reported for Thai children with cerebral palsy using the ICF-CY framework.

Background: Cerebral palsy (CP) is the most common disability in childhood. The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) provides a standard framework for classifying performance in people with disability, including children with CP. Linking measures actually reported with the ICF classification promotes best practice, especially pertinent in developing countries such as Thailand.

Muscle length and joint range of motion in children with cystic fibrosis compared to children developing typically.

Purpose: To explore range of motion in children with cystic fibrosis (CF) compared to children developing typically. With the increasing longevity of people with CF, musculoskeletal concerns are becoming more prevalent and should be identified and considered in management plans. Reduced range of motion (ROM) in older people with CF has been demonstrated, and the age at which these changes begin to occur must be explored.

Systematic review of early intervention programmes for children from birth to nine years who have a physical disability.

Aim: To systematically review the literature on the effectiveness of early intervention programmes for children with physical disabilities.

Methods: Twelve electronic databases were searched for articles published between 1990 and April 2008. The quality of articles was appraised using an adapted version of the Checklist for the Evaluation of Research Articles and the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) scale.

Multidisciplinary assessment of children with developmental coordination disorder: using the ICF framework to inform assessment.

The aim of this study was to describe relationships in young children with motor coordination problems between measures of motor, functional, self-efficacy, and communication administered by a multidisciplinary team and the fit of these measures within the framework of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) (World Health Organisation, 2001). Sixty children, 40 males and 20 females, with mean age 72.5 months (SD= 11.

Motor coordination difficulties and physical fitness of extremely-low-birthweight children.

Motor coordination difficulties and poor fitness exist in the extremely low birthweight (ELBW) population. This study investigated the relative impact of motor coordination on the fitness of ELBW children aged 11 to 13 years. One hundred and nine children were recruited to the study: 54 ELBW participants (mean age at assessment 12y 6mo; 31 male, 23 female; mean birthweight 769g, SD 148g; mean gestational age 26.

Respiratory exacerbations in children with cystic fibrosis: physiotherapy treatment outcomes.

Treatment efficacy is crucial in cystic fibrosis (CF) as it impacts directly upon life expectancy, with its evaluation contributing to the evidence base for physiotherapy practice. This study assesses whether respiratory outcomes changed at the Royal Children's Hospital, Brisbane (RCH) over a period when physiotherapy airways clearance techniques altered All 1998 and 2000 admissions of children over two years of age to RCH for CF related respiratory exacerbations were included, totalling 248 admissions, 125 in 1998 and 123 in 2000. Data for respiratory effort, cough quality, sputum volume/weight, sputum colour and sputum stickiness were analysed.

Change in physiotherapy management of children with cystic fibrosis in a large urban hospital.

A retrospective audit was conducted in 1998 and 2000 to review the physiotherapy management of hospitalized children with cystic fibrosis (CF) at the Brisbane Royal Children's Hospital (RCH). The objective was to detect and explore possible changes in patient management in this time period and investigate whether these changes reflected changes in the current theory of CF management. All children over two years of age with CF admitted during 1998 and 2000 with pulmonary manifestation and who satisfied set criteria were included (n = 249).

Motor and functional skills of children with developmental coordination disorder: a pilot investigation of measurement issues.

This paper reports on the motor and functional outcomes of 20 children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD) aged 4-8 years consecutively referred to a pediatric physiotherapy service. Children with a Movement ABC (M-ABC) score less than the 15th percentile, and with no concurrent medical, sensory, physical, intellectual or neurological impairments, were recruited. The Motor Assessment Outcomes Model (MAOM) [Coster and Haley, Infants and Young Children 4 (1992) 11] provided the theoretical base for measurement selection, and preliminary findings at the activities and participation levels of the model are reported in this article.

Use of the auditory clap task in physiotherapy developmental assessment.

This study assessed the test-retest reliability of the auditory clapping task in normal children. This task forms part of the physiotherapy neurodevelopmental assessment for children over five years of age, and is an auditory sequential short term memory (STM) test which is not language biased. Trends associated with age, gender and type of rhythm were also examined in five, seven and nine year old children.