Automated abdominal aortic calcification and major adverse cardiovascular events in people undergoing osteoporosis screening: the Manitoba Bone Mineral Density Registry.

Vertebral fracture assessment (VFA) images from bone density machines enable the automated machine learning assessment of abdominal aortic calcification (ML-AAC), a marker of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. The objective of this study was to describe the risk of a major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE, from linked health records) in patients attending routine bone mineral density (BMD) testing and meeting specific criteria based on age, BMD, height loss, or glucocorticoid use have a VFA in the Manitoba Bone Mineral Density Registry. The cohort included 10 250 individuals (mean 75.

Simultaneous automated ascertainment of prevalent vertebral fracture and abdominal aortic calcification in clinical practice: role in fracture risk assessment.

Whether simultaneous automated ascertainments of prevalent vertebral fracture (auto-PVFx) and abdominal aortic calcification (auto-AAC) on vertebral fracture assessment (VFA) lateral spine bone density (BMD) images jointly predict incident fractures in routine clinical practice is unclear. We estimated the independent associations of auto-PVFx and auto-AAC primarily with incident major osteoporotic and secondarily with incident hip and any clinical fractures in 11 013 individuals (mean [SD] age 75.8 [6.

Investigating the impact of developmental coordination difficulties across home, school, and community settings: Findings from the Australian Impact for DCD survey.

Aim: To evaluate the participation difficulties experienced by children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD) in home, school, and community environments.

Methods: The Impact for DCD survey was completed by primary caregivers of 4-18-year-old children with DCD (or synonymous diagnosis) (n = 429).

Outcomes And Results: The greatest participation difficulties experienced at home included dressing, eating with utensils, self-care tasks and drawing/writing reported by over 70% of families.

Psychosocial wellbeing, parental concerns, and familial impact of children with developmental coordination disorder.

Background: Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) is a neurodevelopmental condition impacting motor skill acquisition and competence. While previous studies have identified adverse psychosocial outcomes in DCD, they are limited by small or population-screened, community-based samples.

Aims: To understand the psychosocial difficulties, parental concerns, and familial impacts of childhood DCD in a large population-based sample.

Machine learning for abdominal aortic calcification assessment from bone density machine-derived lateral spine images.

Background: Lateral spine images for vertebral fracture assessment can be easily obtained on modern bone density machines. Abdominal aortic calcification (AAC) can be scored on these images by trained imaging specialists to assess cardiovascular disease risk. However, this process is laborious and requires careful training.

A statistical shape model of soleus muscle morphology in spastic cerebral palsy.

This study investigated morphological characteristics of the soleus muscle in cerebral palsy (CP) and typically developing (TD) cohorts using a statistical shape model and differentiated dominant features between the two cohorts. We generated shape models of CP and TD cohorts to characterize dominant features within each. We then generated a combined shape model of both CP and TD to assess deviations of the cohorts' soleuses from a common mean shape, and statistically analysed differences between the cohorts.

Machine learning for automated abdominal aortic calcification scoring of DXA vertebral fracture assessment images: A pilot study.

Background: Abdominal aortic calcification (AAC) identified on dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) vertebral fracture assessment (VFA) lateral spine images is predictive of cardiovascular outcomes, but is time-consuming to perform manually. Whether this procedure can be automated using convolutional neural networks (CNNs), a class of machine learning algorithms used for image processing, has not been widely investigated.

Methods: Using the Province of Manitoba Bone Density Program DXA database, we selected a random sample of 1100 VFA images from individuals qualifying for VFA as part of their osteoporosis assessment.

"Capturing the magic": identifying the active ingredients of a physical activity participation intervention for children and youth with disabilities.

Purpose: This study aimed to define the active ingredients of a participation-focused physical activity intervention for children and youth with disabilities.

Materials And Methods: An ethnographic approach was employed, triangulating participant observation, interviews and focus groups. Participant recruitment occurred through purposive sampling of staff employed at Beitostolen Healthsports Centre (BHC), and paediatric service providers visiting the centre.

The unmet clinical needs of children with developmental coordination disorder.

Background: The aim of this study was to understand the challenges experienced by families obtaining a diagnosis and therapy for developmental coordination disorder (DCD).

Methods: Parents of 435 children aged 4-18 years with persistent motor difficulties consistent with a diagnosis of DCD completed an online survey. Diagnostic timeline and diagnostic label/s received were examined, along with therapies accessed.

Measuring skeletal muscle morphology and architecture with imaging modalities in children with cerebral palsy: a scoping review.

Aim: To investigate the use of ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) methodologies to assess muscle morphology and architecture in children with cerebral palsy (CP).

Method: A scoping review was conducted with systematic searches of Medline, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, and PsycInfo for all original articles published up to January 2019 utilizing ultrasound and/or MRI to determine morphological and architectural properties of lower limb skeletal muscle in children with CP.

Results: Eighty papers used ultrasound (n=44), three-dimensional ultrasound (n=16), or MRI (n=20) to measure at least one muscle parameter in children and adolescents with CP.

Prevalence of Motor Difficulties in Autism Spectrum Disorder: Analysis of a Population-Based Cohort.

Motor impairment is not currently included in the diagnostic criteria or evaluation of autism. This reflects the lack of large-scale studies demonstrating its prominence to advocate for change. We examined the prevalence of motor difficulties at the time of diagnosis in a large sample of children with autism utilizing standardized assessment, and the relationship between motor difficulties, core autism symptomology, and other prominent clinical features.

Muscle volume alterations after first botulinum neurotoxin A treatment in children with cerebral palsy: a 6-month prospective cohort study.

Aim: This study aimed to track alterations in muscle volume for 6 months in children with cerebral palsy (CP) after the first exposure to botulinum neurotoxin A (BoNT-A), a commonly used focal spasticity treatment.

Method: Eleven ambulant children (eight males, three females) with spastic CP, mean age 8 years 10 months (SD 3y 1mo) participated. Participants received injections to the affected gastrocnemius.

Visual tracking behaviour of two-handed catching in boys with developmental coordination disorder.

Background: Developmental coordination disorder (DCD) is a motor learning disability that affects coordination resulting in an inability to perform movement skills at an age appropriate level. One area suspected to contribute to the movement difficulties experienced are deficits in visuomotor control.

Aims: This study investigated visual tracking behaviour during catching in children with DCD.

Muscle morphology of the lower leg in ambulant children with spastic cerebral palsy.

Introduction: In this study we aimed to determine the lower limb morphological characteristics of skeletal muscle of ambulant children with spastic cerebral palsy (CP) and typically developing (TD) children.

Methods: Seventeen children with spastic diplegic CP (10 boys and 7 girls, 5-12 years of age, Gross Motor Function Classification System [GMFCS] level I or II) and 19 TD children (8 boys and 11 girls, 5-11 years of age) underwent lower limb T1-weighted MRI. Morphological characteristics of the triceps surae, including muscle volume, anatomical cross-sectional area, muscle length, and subcutaneous adipose tissue, were digitally quantified, and the proportional distribution calculated.

Physiological characteristics, self-perceptions, and parental support of physical activity in children with, or at risk of, developmental coordination disorder.

Children with low movement proficiency have been identified as having poorer physiological and psychosocial outcomes; however, the varied measurement approaches used to assess these outcomes have varied resulting in conflicting evidence regarding the presence and magnitude of differences compared to Typically Developing (TD) children. Additionally, there has been limited research into the role of parental support for physical activity (PA) in this group. We compared children with varying levels of movement proficiency on physiological characteristics and self-perceptions regarding PA.

Reliability and validity of the adapted Resistance Training Skills Battery for Children.

Objectives: Resistance training (RT) is emerging as a training modality to improve motor function and facilitate physical activity participation in children across the motor proficiency spectrum. Although RT competency assessments have been established and validated among adolescent cohorts, the extent to which these methods are suitable for assessing children's RT skills is unknown. This project aimed to assess the psychometric properties of the adapted Resistance Training Skills Battery for Children (RTSBc), in children with varying motor proficiency.

'It's important that we learn too': Empowering parents to facilitate participation in physical activity for children and youth with disabilities.

Aim: The actions and behaviors of parents have been identified as key factors that influence a child's participation in physical activity. However, there is limited knowledge of how parents can be supported to embody facilitative roles. This study aimed to explore how an ecological intervention encourages parents of children with disabilities to develop as facilitators, to enable ongoing physical activity participation in a child's local environment.

Reduced relative volume in motor and attention regions in developmental coordination disorder: A voxel-based morphometry study.

Background And Objectives: Developmental coordination disorder (DCD) is a prevalent childhood movement disorder, impacting the ability to perform movement skills at an age appropriate level. Although differences in grey matter (GM) volumes have been found in related developmental disorders, no such evidence has been linked with DCD to date. This cross-sectional study assessed structural brain differences in children with and without DCD.

Elements contributing to meaningful participation for children and youth with disabilities: a scoping review.

Purpose: To synthesise research literature describing elements of community recreation and leisure activities that create meaningful participation experiences for children and youth with disabilities.

Method: Database searches of Medline, Embase, PsycINFO, ERIC, SportDiscus, CINAHL, Scopus and Web of Science were conducted. Studies describing the experience of participating in a community-based programme or activity from the perspectives of children and youth with a disability aged 0-21 or their parents, and published in English were included.

Adaptation of the Resistance Training Skills Battery for Use in Children Across the Motor Proficiency Spectrum.

Purpose: The study aim was to adapt the Resistance Training Skills Battery for use in children and assess its interrater and intrarater reliability. The RTSBc provides an assessment of resistance training (RT) skill competency and an indication of readiness to perform RT. The RTSBc includes 6 basic RT skills.

Cognitive Orientation to (Daily) Occupational Performance intervention leads to improvements in impairments, activity and participation in children with Developmental Coordination Disorder.

Introduction: Children diagnosed with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) present with a variety of impairments in fine and gross motor function, which impact on their activity and participation in a variety of settings. This research aimed to determine if a 10-week group-based Cognitive Orientation to Daily Occupational Performance (CO-OP) intervention improved outcome measures across the impairment, activity and participation levels of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) framework.

Methods: In this quasi-experimental, pre-post-test, 20 male children aged 8-10 years (x9y1m ± 9 m) with a confirmed diagnosis of DCD participated in either the 10 week group intervention based on the CO-OP framework (n = 10) or in a control period of regular activity for 10 weeks (n = 10).

Muscle histopathology in children with spastic cerebral palsy receiving botulinum toxin type A.

Introduction: Botulinum toxin A (BoNTA) is routine treatment for hypertonicity in children with cerebral palsy (CP).

Methods: This single-blind, prospective, cross-sectional study of 10 participants (mean age 11 years 7 months) was done to determine the relationship between muscle histopathology and BoNTA in treated medial gastrocnemius muscle of children with CP. Open muscle biopsies were taken from medial gastrocnemius muscle and vastus lateralis (control) during orthopedic surgery.

Cortical functioning in children with developmental coordination disorder: a motor overflow study.

This study examined brain activation in children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD) to reveal areas that may contribute to poor movement execution and/or abundant motor overflow. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging, 13 boys with DCD (mean age = 9.6 years ±0.

Ultrasound characterization of medial gastrocnemius tissue composition in children with spastic cerebral palsy.

Introduction: In this study we aimed to characterize muscle composition of the medial gastrocnemius in children with spastic cerebral palsy (SCP) using quantitative ultrasound.

Methods: Forty children with SCP, aged 4-14 years, participated in this study. Children were grouped according to the gross motor function classification system (GMFCS I-V) and compared with a cohort of age- and gender-matched, typically developing children (TD; n = 12).