Category Archives: Issues
BMI does not drop after surgical realignment for Blount disease
Surgical correction of the varus alignment that is characteristic of Blount disease does not lead to greater patient activity or reduction in body mass index (BMI), according to a recent study.
By Hank Black
Understanding Hypotonia
Diagnostic challenges should not delay clinical intervention – Hypotonia, or abnormally low muscle tone, is by itself not a disorder but a symptom of an enormous array of issues—many of which can be difficult to diagnose accurately.
By Christina Hall Nettles
Posted in 2014, August, Feature Article
Leave a comment
Gait: The Cornerstone of Intervention
Quantifying the effects of hypotonia starts in the clinic – Effective management of children with hypotonia requires an understanding of how the condition affects gait. Clinicians typically rely on their professional experience when discussing the effects of hypotonia on gait in pediatric patients, partly because they trust that experience…
By Cary Groner
Posted in 2014, August, Feature Article
Leave a comment
The Importance of Gross Motor Skills
Early intervention can help provide a solid foundation – Many kids with Down syndrome, autism, and other neurological conditions may experience biomechanical limitations in the form of delayed development of gross motor skills. One of the drivers of that delay can be hypotonia.
By Shalmali Pal
Posted in 2014, August, SureStep, Feature Article
Leave a comment
Orthotic Solutions for Children with Hypotonia
New research underscores years of positive clinical results – When it comes to orthotic management of pediatric patients with hypotonia, the medical literature is only beginning to document the effectiveness that clinicians have been reporting anecdotally for years.
By Cary Groner
Posted in August, Feature Article, 2014
Leave a comment
Orthotic success stories: Four cases in a series
Each child in this case series was assessed every other week for 16 weeks (12 weeks for one patient who moved out of state) to determine mastery of items 23, 26-28, 30-39, 41, 42, and 45 (ranging from “pull to stand” to “run”) on the Peabody Developmental Motor Scale. Test instructions were modified as needed for children to understand them …
By Megan Smith, CO
Posted in August, Feature Article, 2014
Leave a comment
Prevention of ACL injuries targets youngest athletes
Some evidence suggests that neuromuscular training before puberty can help further reduce anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury rates. But young children respond differently to instruction than their older counterparts, which means early intervention requires some creativity.
By P.K. Daniel
Outcome studies continue to support Ponseti method
Clubfoot researchers have begun to report long-term data that continue to solidify the superiority of the conservative method over surgical intervention in most cases. But variations to the traditional Ponseti method are arising, particularly in developing countries, and may alter outcomes.
By Larry Hand
Posted in Pediatric Feature, 2014, August
Tagged clubfoot, pediatric clubfoot, Ponseti method
Leave a comment
Plaster outranks other pediatric casting materials for moldability
Sometimes, even when new treatment materials are available, it may be better to rely on traditional options. Such may be the case when it comes to choosing a molding material to form casts for children with clubfoot or fractures.
By Larry Hand
Posted in 2014, May, Pediatric Clinical News
Tagged pediatric casting, plaster casting, casting
Leave a comment
Risks of overuse, burnout extend to youth athletes
Despite the slim odds of securing an athletic scholarship and the even slimmer prospect of playing professional sports, there’s an overemphasis today on success in competitive youth sports, including specialization and…
By P.K. Daniel
Posted in 2014, May, Pediatric Clinical News
Tagged overuse injuries in youth sports, youth sports
Leave a comment