Using Telerehabilitation to Deliver a Home Exercise Program to Youth With Arthrogryposis: Single Cohort Pilot Study.

Background: Arthrogryposis multiplex congenita (AMC) is characterized by joint contractures and muscle weakness, which limit daily activities. Youths with AMC require frequent physical therapeutic follow-ups to limit the recurrence of contractures and maintain range of motion (ROM) and muscle strength; however, access to specialized care may be limited because of geographical distance. Telerehabilitation can offer a potential solution for delivering frequent follow-ups for youth with AMC, but research on the use of telerehabilitation in children with musculoskeletal disorders is scarce.

Inter-rater Reliability of the McKenzie Method of Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy for the Provisional Classification of Low Back Pain in Adolescents and Young Adults.

Objective: To investigate the inter-rater reliability of Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy (MDT)-trained Diplomats in classifying adolescents and young adults with lumbar pain.

Methods: Forty-three participants (mean age 15 ± 2 years) with lumbar pain, with or without lower extremity symptoms, were assessed simultaneously by three MDT Diploma holders and classified into one of three groups: 1) Derangement, 2) Dysfunction, 3) Postural/OTHER. Inter-rater reliability was calculated using the Fleiss kappa statistics with 95% confidence intervals (CI).

A Telerehabilitation Intervention for Youths With Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita: Protocol for a Pilot Study.

Background: Arthrogryposis multiplex congenita (AMC) is characterized by joint contractures present in at least two body areas. In addition to these contractures, individuals with AMC can have decreased muscle mass, leading to limitations in activities of daily living. Exercise has the potential to maintain or improve the range of motion and muscle strength.

Selective Dorsal Root Rhizotomy for Spastic Cerebral Palsy: A Longitudinal Case-Control Analysis of Functional Outcome.

Background: The benefit of selective dorsal rhizotomies (SDR) on motor function relative to the cerebral palsy (CP) natural history remains unknown.

Objective: To determine the functional benefit of SDR over the longitudinal CP natural history.

Methods: Retrospective, single-center, case-control study of patients post-SDR after 1990.

Functional Gains in Children With Spastic Hemiplegia Following a Tendon Achilles Lengthening Using Computerized Adaptive Testing-A Pilot Study.

Purpose: This pilot study evaluated the outcomes of tendon Achilles lengthening in 12 children (mean age: 11.2 years) with spastic hemiplegia.

Methods: Cerebral Palsy Computer Adaptive Tests, the timed up-and-go, the Gross Motor Function Measure, the Gillette Functional Assessment Questionnaire, and the Pediatric Outcomes Data Collection Instrument were administered at baseline and at 6, 12, and 24 months postsurgery.

Long-term functional benefits of selective dorsal rhizotomy for spastic cerebral palsy.

Object: Large-scale natural history studies of gross motor development have shown that children with spastic cerebral palsy (CP) plateau during childhood and actually decline through adolescence. Selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR) is a well-recognized treatment for spastic CP, but little is known about long-term outcomes of this treatment. The purpose of this study was to assess the durability of functional outcomes in a large number of patients through adolescence and into early adulthood using standardized assessment tools.

Determinants of responsiveness to botulinum toxin, casting, and bracing in the treatment of spastic equinus in children with cerebral palsy.

Aim: The objective was to determine whether specific intrinsic (age, pattern of cerebral palsy [CP], child's motivation) and extrinsic (number of treatments, parenting stress) characteristics were associated with responsiveness to botulinum toxin A (BoNT-A) injections in children with CP 3 months after injection into the gastrocnemius muscle.

Method: Children with hemiplegia or diplegia recruited from a BoNT-A programme were evaluated before and 3 months following injection of BoNT-A into the gastrocnemius. Outcome measures included muscle tone, range of motion, gait pattern, level of ambulation, gross motor function, and functional independence.