A clinical investigation of force plate drift error on predicted joint kinetics during gait.

Inverse dynamic analysis is a technique used during gait analysis to estimate intersegmental forces and net joint moments. Inverse dynamic calculations are susceptible to various forms of error. One such error is force plate drift, often produced by humidity condensing within the input connectors and electronics, causing an undesired change in output over time.

The Effect of Mobility Assistance Dogs on Quality of Life in Children with Physical and Neurological Impairments.

Aims: To measure the quality of life in children with impaired walking who receive a mobility assistance dog (MAD).

Methods: The parents of ten children who received a MAD completed the cerebral palsy quality of life questionnaire, before receiving their dog and at one, three, and six-month follow-up. Data were analyzed to assess changes for each participant and to the group.

Facilitating choice when engaging young people with disabilities: reflections from co-researcher training.

Background: A collaborative approach is critical in inclusive research and should incorporate taking time to build relationships with co-researchers based on trust and shared understanding. Involvement can often be seen as tokenistic and in order to avoid this, it is important to provide opportunities for people to exercise choice throughout the research process.

Main Body: The current paper outlines learnings from a co-researcher training process for young people with disabilities to identify the ways in which meaningful choice can be facilitated with this group.

Participation in physical activity by adolescents with physical disability: cross-sectional snapshot and future priorities ("Youth Experience Matters" protocol).

Young people with physical disability experience challenges to being physically active. To attain the health benefits of physical activity (PA) and sustain engagement, it is essential that participation is meaningful and enjoyable. This study aims to describe current participation in PA by adolescents with physical disability in Ireland, and to establish consensus on their priorities for enhancing physical activity participation.

Aging Well With a Lifelong Disability: A Scoping Review.

Background And Objectives: Existing literature highlights notable health and social inequalities for people aging with a lifelong disability and the need for research to better understand how we can support this group to age well. This scoping review mapped existing literature related to "aging well" in people with lifelong disabilities.

Research Design And Methods: Five scientific databases and gray literature sources were searched for studies related to "aging well" and "lifelong disability" (defined as a disability that a person had lived with since birth or early childhood).

The positioning information that should be provided to caregivers of adults with a physical disability on supply of custom-contoured seating, a Delphi study.

Purpose: This research aims to identify information that is important to provide on supply of custom-contoured seating. The way this information would be best communicated is also of interest. A two-round e-Delphi study was utilised to explore consensus.

Experiences of health services for adults with cerebral palsy, their support people, and service providers.

Aim: To explore the experiences of health services among adults with cerebral palsy (CP) in Ireland, from the perspectives of adults with CP, their support people, and service providers.

Method: A qualitative descriptive study design was used. In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted between March and August 2021 with adults with CP, people who supported them, and health professionals.

Age related progression of lower limb coordination during gait in children with cerebral palsy without a history of surgical intervention.

Walking requires precise movement between body segments, referred to as intersegmental coordination, which is an important factor in efficient motor performance. For children with cerebral palsy (CP), who often demonstrate an impaired neuromuscular system, intersegmental coordination has been shown to be different when compared to their typically developed (TD) peers. However, how intersegmental coordination changes over time in these children is unclear.

Identifying the top 10 priorities of adolescents with a physical disability regarding participation in physical activity: A Delphi study.

Aim: To establish consensus among adolescents with a physical disability regarding their priorities for enhancing participation in physical activity and help inform the design of future interventions for participation in physical activity.

Method: We conducted a national multi-round Delphi study involving adolescents with a physical disability aged 13 to 17 years. Round 1 of the initial survey consisted of open-ended questions.

Understanding the use of digital technologies to provide disability services remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic; a multiple case study design.

Background: Using digital technologies to provide services and supports remotely may improve efficiency and accessibility of healthcare, and support people with disabilities to live independently. This study aimed to explore the experience of using digital technologies to access and provide disability services and supports during the Covid-19 pandemic, from the perspective of people with disabilities, families and service providers.

Methods: Using a multiple case study design, we purposively sampled three cases based on service user characteristics and geographical reach of the service.

Mapping health services for adults with cerebral palsy in Ireland: a pilot study.

Background: Cerebral palsy (CP) is a common cause of physical disability in childhood. The majority of children with CP survive to adulthood. Once discharged from children's services, adults with CP find it challenging to navigate health services.

Prevalence, Clinical Features, Neuroimaging, and Genetic Findings in Children With Ataxic Cerebral Palsy in Europe.

Background And Objectives: To report on prevalence, associated impairments, severity, and neuroimaging findings in children with ataxic cerebral palsy (CP).

Methods: In children coded as having ataxic CP in the Central database of Joint Research Center-Surveillance of Cerebral Palsy in Europe (JRC-SCPE) and born during 1980-2010, birth characteristics, severity profiles including associated impairments, neuroimaging patterns, and the presence of syndromes were analyzed. Definitions were according to validated SCPE guidelines.

Transition from child to adult services for young people with cerebral palsy in Ireland: Influencing factors at multiple ecological levels.

Aim: To explore the factors that influence the process of transitioning from child to adult services in Ireland among young people with cerebral palsy, their parents, and service providers.

Method: This study followed a qualitative descriptive approach. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 54 participants, including young people with cerebral palsy aged 16 to 22 years (n = 13), their parents (n = 14), and service providers (n = 27).

A prospective assessment of gait kinematics and related clinical examination measures in cerebral palsy crouch gait.

Background While prospectively assessed crouch gait in cerebral palsy (CP) does not necessarily progress, prospective changes in clinical examination measures have not been reported. This study prospectively examined the association between selected clinical examination variables and change in crouch gait in a cohort with bilateral CP. Methods Inclusion criteria were a diagnosis of ambulant bilateral CP, knee flexion at mid-stance >19 and a minimum of two-years between gait analyses.

Why do children with unilateral cerebral palsy struggle with the single leg stance test? A kinematic and centre of pressure analysis.

Background: Children with unilateral cerebral palsy often report difficulty with balance in everyday life. The single leg stance test is a challenging task, requiring rapid sensory input and precise motor adjustment. The purpose of this study was to examine how children with cerebral palsy perform this test, compared to typically developing children.

The effects of weight gain over time on gait in children with cerebral palsy: Comparison to a matched healthy weight cerebral palsy control group.

Background: Children with cerebral palsy (CP) have demonstrated higher rates of overweight and obesity than their typically developed peers. Limited studies have assessed how being overweight or obese affect lower limb kinematics during gait in these children.

Research Question: How are lower limb kinematics during gait affected in children with CP who progress from a healthy weight to being overweight or obese compared to a well-matched healthy weight CP control group?

Methods: A retrospective analysis of the movement analysis laboratory database was conducted.

The medium-term effects of selective dorsal rhizotomy on gait compared to a matched cerebral palsy non-SDR group: A follow-up study.

Background: Selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR) has been shown to improve gait in the short-term in children with cerebral palsy (CP). Further study is needed to look at the trajectory of outcomes over the longer-term.

Research Question: What are the medium-term effects of SDR on gait compared to a matched CP non-SDR group?

Methods: Participants underwent SDR at mean age 6.

Unmet healthcare needs in adults with childhood-onset neurodisabilities: a protocol for a systematic review.

Background Many adults with childhood-onset neurodisabilities, such as those with intellectual disability or cerebral palsy, report difficulties accessing the healthcare that they require when they are no longer eligible for paediatric services. Compared to the general population, this population is at greater risk of developing many ageing-related diseases and has higher rates of preventable deaths and premature mortality. Addressing unmet healthcare needs is essential to ensuring equitable access in a quality healthcare system.

Unmet Health Needs among Young Adults with Cerebral Palsy in Ireland: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Data describing the unmet health needs of young adults with cerebral palsy (CP) may support the development of appropriate health services. This study aimed to describe unmet health needs among young adults with CP in Ireland and examine if these differed between young adults who were and were not yet discharged from children's services. In this cross-sectional study, young adults with CP aged 16-22 years completed a questionnaire assessing unmet health needs.

Pilates-based exercises for gait and balance in ambulant children with cerebral palsy: feasibility and clinical outcomes of a randomised controlled trial.

Purpose: To determine if Pilates-based exercise classes could be feasible and effective in changing gait kinematics and balance in ambulant children with Cerebral Palsy (CP).

Materials And Methods: A single-blind multi-centre randomised controlled trial compared a four-week, twice-weekly Pilates-based exercise class to a usual exercise control, for ambulant children with CP. Clinical outcome measures were three-dimensional trunk and lower limb kinematics during walking on level ground, uneven ground and crossing an obstacle; and clinical balance measures.

Transition to adult services experienced by young people with cerebral palsy: A cross-sectional study.

Aim: To assess if young people with cerebral palsy experience and health professionals provide practices that may improve transition from child to adult health services.

Method: Seventy-five young people (31 females, 44 males; mean age 18 years 5 months [standard deviation 2 years 2 months]) and/or parents and 108 health professionals completed a questionnaire describing their experience or the provision of nine transition practices.

Results: The percentage of young people reporting each practice was: appropriate parent involvement (90%); promotion of health self-efficacy (37%); named worker who supports the transition process (36%); self-management support for physical health (36%); self-management support for mental health (17%); information about the transition process (24%); meeting the adult team (16%); and life skills training (16%).

Age related progression of clinical measures and gait in ambulant children and youth with bilateral cerebral palsy without a history of surgical intervention.

Background: Age related progression needs to be considered when assessing current status and treatment outcomes in cerebral palsy (CP).

Research Question: What is the association between age, gait kinematics and clinical measures in children with bilateral CP?

Method: A retrospective database review was conducted. Subjects with bilateral CP with baseline and follow-up 3D gait analyses, but no history of intervening surgery were identified.