Exploring the Experiences and Perceptions of Pediatric Therapists who use Functional Electrical Stimulation in their Clinical Practice.

Aim: This study aimed to 1) explore the experiences and perceptions of pediatric physical therapists (PTs) and occupational therapists (OTs) who use FES in their practice, and 2) provide recommendations for overcoming common barriers to FES implementation.Methods: Eight Canadian PTs (n = 6) and OTs (n = 2), who use FES in their pediatric practice, participated in semi-structured interviews. Open-ended questions queried the motivation, goals, perceived benefits and challenges, and facilitators and barriers of FES use. Interviews were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. Interpretive description was used to analyze the transcripts.Results: One overarching theme emerged: FES is a useful adjunct to therapy for certain pediatric clients. Four sub-themes were identified: Participants described 1) motivation for incorporating FES into clinical practice, which led to 2) experiences with the implementation of FES in clinical practice, including strategies for overcoming implementation barriers. These experiences influenced 3) how FES is used in practice (e.g. for which populations and therapeutic goals), and informed 4) recommendations for pediatric FES practice (e.g. more educational opportunities, research, and access for families).Conclusions: Pediatric PTs and OTs who use FES in clinical practice view FES as a valuable adjunct, especially for motor training to improve functional skills.

Effects of solid ankle-foot orthoses with individualized ankle angles on gait for children with cerebral palsy and equinus.

PURPOSE: For children with cerebral palsy (CP) and equinus, the conventional practice of setting the ankle angle in an ankle-foot orthosis (AA-AFO) at 90∘ may not adequately accommodate gastrocnemius length/stiffness. Therefore, this study compared the effects of statically-optimized solid AFOs with individualized AA-AFOs (iAA-AFOs) and conventionally-prescribed AFOs on gait for children with CP and equinus. METHODS: Ten children with CP and equinus (15 limbs with AFOs), and 15 typically-developing (TD) children participated. For the children with CP, solid AFOs with iAA-AFOs (range = 5∘-25∘ plantarflexion) were compared with their usual AFOs using three-dimensional gait analysis. TD children walked in shoes only. Peak values and Gait Variable Scores (GVS) for joint and segment variables were calculated for stance phase. Responses were categorized using 90% confidence intervals relative to TD data, for each affected leg. RESULTS: Net responses to iAA-AFOs were positive for 60% of limbs and negative for 40%. Knee variables (GVS and peak extension, flexion, and midstance moment) were most positively affected, and foot-floor angle and vertical ground reaction force were most negatively impacted. CONCLUSION: Individualized AFO prescription and iAA-AFOs can impact gait biomechanics for some children with equinus, compared to conventionally-prescribed AFOs. Optimizing dynamic alignment for walking may further improve outcomes.

Symptomatic pes planus in children: a synthesis of allied health professional practices.

BACKGROUND: This study sought to explore professional perspectives on the assessment and management of symptomatic pes planus in children. METHODS: Data was collected from three professional groups (podiatrists, physiotherapists, and orthotists) with experience of managing foot problems in children. The survey was undertaken in the United Kingdom via a self-administered, online survey. Data was captured over a four-month period in 2018. RESULTS: Fifty-five health professionals completed the survey and the results highlighted that assessment techniques varied between professions, with standing tip-toe and joint range of motion being the most common. Treatment options for children were diverse and professionals were adopting different strategies as their first line intervention. All professions used orthoses. CONCLUSIONS: There were inconsistencies in how the health professionals assessed children presenting with foot symptoms, variation in how the condition was managed and differences in outcome measurement. These findings might be explained by the lack of robust evidence and suggests that more effort is needed to harmonise assessment and treatment approaches between professions. Addressing discrepancies in practice could help prioritise professional roles in this area, and better support the management of children with foot pain.

Physical Therapists' Use of Evaluation Measures to Inform the Prescription of Ankle-Foot Orthoses for Children with Cerebral Palsy.

Aims: To examine how physical therapists (PTs) use evaluation measures to guide prescription and re-assessment of ankle-foot orthoses (AFOs) for children with CP. Methods: PTs in Canada who work with children with CP were invited to complete an online survey. Survey questions examined PT evaluation and interpretation of findings at initial AFO prescription and re-assessment. Closed-ended responses were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and a conventional content analysis examined responses to open-ended questions. Results: Sixty responses from ten provinces were analyzed. Three themes emerged from the open-ended responses, which were supported by closed-ended responses. (1) Focus on impairment-level measures. Although evaluation primarily involved observational, non-standardized measures of impairments and gait pattern, most respondents also considered participation-level constructs. (2) Lack of confidence/knowledge. Respondents reported a moderate level of confidence concerning decision-making about AFO type and characteristics. 3) Inconsistent practices between therapists, possibly reflecting the paucity of available evidence or individualization of the prescription. Conclusions: Non-standardized, observational assessment methods, and impairment-level constructs appear to guide AFO prescription decisions. Integrating current knowledge into practice, developing best practice guidelines, and developing standardized tools to assess the effects of AFOs on participation may promote confidence, consistency, and improved outcomes.

The Feasibility and Validity of Body-Worn Sensors to Supplement Timed Walking Tests for Children with Neurological Conditions.

AIMS: The 10-meter walk test (10 mWT) and Timed Up and Go (TUG) are assessments of speed/time with a ceiling effect in pediatric populations. This study aimed to (1) determine whether collecting spatiotemporal data with inertial sensors (Mobility Lab, APDM Inc.) during these tests improves their discriminative validity, and (2) evaluate the clinical feasibility of Mobility Lab. METHODS: Fifteen children with spina bifida (SB) or cerebral palsy (CP) (7.9 ± 3.1 years old) and fifteen age- and sex-matched typically-developing (TD) children completed the 10 mWT and TUG wearing Mobility Lab. Spatiotemporal data were compared between groups. Mobility Lab's potential to distinguish children with SB/CP from TD children was examined using conditional logistic regression. Feasibility was evaluated through participant adherence and a clinical utility scale. RESULTS: For the 10 mWT, group differences (p < 0.01) were found in horizontal and frontal trunk range of motion, horizontal trunk velocity, and swing asymmetry. Children with SB/CP took significantly longer to turn during the TUG. These five variables together distinguished the two groups (p = 0.006). 78% of participants with SB/CP completed the testing protocol. Mobility Lab scored 4/10 on the clinical utility scale. CONCLUSIONS: Instrumenting the 10 mWT and TUG improves the tests' ability to discriminate between children with SB/CP and TD children.

Preliminary study of novel, timed walking tests for children with spina bifida or cerebral palsy.

OBJECTIVE: Walking assessment is an important aspect of rehabilitation practice; yet, clinicians have few psychometrically sound options for evaluating walking in highly ambulatory children. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the validity and reliability of two new measures of walking function-the Obstacles and Curb tests-relative to the 10-Meter Walk test and Timed Up and Go test in children with spina bifida or cerebral palsy. METHODS: A total of 16 ambulatory children with spina bifida (n=9) or cerebral palsy (n=7) (9 boys; mean age 7years, 7months; standard deviation 3years, 4months) and 16 age- and gender-matched typically developing children participated. Children completed the walking tests, at both self-selected and fast speeds, twice. To evaluate discriminative validity, scores were compared between typically developing and spina bifida/cerebral palsy groups. Within the spina bifida/cerebral palsy group, inter-test correlations evaluated convergent validity and intraclass correlation coefficients evaluated within-session test-retest reliability. RESULTS: At fast speeds, all tests showed discriminative validity (p<0.006 for typically developing and spina bifida/cerebral palsy comparisons) and convergent validity (rho=0.81-0.90, p⩽0.001, for inter-test correlations). At self-selected speeds, only the Obstacles test discriminated between groups (p=0.001). Moderately strong correlations (rho=0.73-0.78, p⩽0.001) were seen between the 10-Meter Walk test, Curb test, and Timed Up and Go test. Intraclass correlation coefficients ranged from 0.81 to 0.97, with higher test-retest reliability for tests performed at fast speeds rather than self-selected speeds. CONCLUSION: The Obstacles and Curb tests are promising measures for assessing walking in this population. Performing tests at fast walking speeds may improve their validity and test-retest reliability for children with spina bifida/cerebral palsy.

A Group Motor Skills Program for Children with Coordination Difficulties: Effect on Fundamental Movement Skills and Physical Activity Participation.

AIMS: Children with coordination difficulties are at risk of low levels of physical activity (PA) participation. This intervention examined the effects of a multidisciplinary program that emphasized parent participation on motor skill performance and PA. METHODS: Ten boys (5-7 years) completed a group program consisting of conditioning exercises and activities designed to address child-selected goals. Motor proficiency and PA participation were assessed before and after the program using the Test of Gross Motor Development (TGMD-2) and triaxial accelerometers, respectively. Rating scales captured child and parent perceptions of performance for each child's goals. RESULTS: TGMD-2 subtest raw scores, age equivalent and percentile scores improved, along with parent ratings of their child's performance. Six children reported skill improvements. On average, moderate to vigorous PA improved by 10 min per day although these gains were not significant. Time spent in sedentary activities was unchanged. None of the children met the Canadian PA and sedentary behaviour guidelines. CONCLUSIONS: The results support effectiveness of a group program to improve gross motor performance and levels of PA in children with coordination difficulties. Gains in both of these domains also have the potential to impact quality of life and reduce health risks associated with inactivity.

Past and current use of walking measures for children with spina bifida: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVES: To describe walking measurement in children with spina bifida and to identify patterns in the use of walking measures in this population. DATA SOURCES: Seven medical databases-Medline, PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, CINAHL, and AMED-were searched from the earliest known record until March 11, 2014. Search terms encompassed 3 themes: (1) children; (2) spina bifida; and (3) walking. STUDY SELECTION: Articles were included if participants were children with spina bifida aged 1 to 17 years and if walking was measured. Articles were excluded if the assessment was restricted to kinematic, kinetic, or electromyographic analysis of walking. A total of 1751 abstracts were screened by 2 authors independently, and 109 articles were included in this review. DATA EXTRACTION: Data were extracted using standardized forms. Extracted data included study and participant characteristics and details about the walking measures used, including psychometric properties. Two authors evaluated the methodological quality of articles using a previously published framework that considers sampling method, study design, and psychometric properties of the measures used. DATA SYNTHESIS: Nineteen walking measures were identified. Ordinal-level rating scales (eg, Hoffer Functional Ambulation Scale) were most commonly used (57% of articles), followed by ratio-level, spatiotemporal measures, such as walking speed (18% of articles). Walking was measured for various reasons relevant to multiple health care disciplines. A machine learning analysis was used to identify patterns in the use of walking measures. The learned classifier predicted whether a spatiotemporal measure was used with 77.1% accuracy. A trend to use spatiotemporal measures in older children and those with lumbar and sacral spinal lesions was identified. Most articles were prospective studies that used samples of convenience and unblinded assessors. Few articles evaluated or considered the psychometric properties of the walking measures used. CONCLUSIONS: Despite a demonstrated need to measure walking in children with spina bifida, few valid, reliable, and responsive measures have been established for this population.