Category Archives: Archives

Growing pains: Adapting O&P devices to maturing patients

Accommodating growth without compromising fit and function is a challenge for practitioners who prescribe orthotic devices for young patients. Adjustments and add-ons—as well as educating parents about expected changes—can make for smoother transitions.

By Shalmali Pal

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Posted in 2015, Pediatric Feature, August | Leave a comment

Childhood obesity and OA: Can early care reduce risk?

Osteoarthritis (OA) risk factors and symptoms seen in adults have been found in obese kids, who often have musculoskeletal pain. Weight loss may help, but preventing OA may also require gait and exercise interventions, particularly those that reduce pain that leads to inactivity.

By Erin Boutwell

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Posted in Pediatric Feature, August, 2015 | Leave a comment

Obese children develop knee malalignment as they mature

Effect might increase future OA risk – As obese children undergo the rapid physical changes of puberty, they develop knee malalignment that could potentially contribute to development of knee osteoarthritis (OA), according to recent research from Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, OH.

By Emily Delzell

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Posted in May, 2015, Pediatric Clinical News | Leave a comment

Lower-body focus could help youth baseball player arms

Studies link hip, shoulder function – Kids grow up thinking that throwing a baseball hard is all about strength in the arm and shoulder, but new evidence suggests that muscle strength and range of motion in the hip affect shoulder function during throwing in youth baseball players.

By Chris Klingenberg

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Posted in May, 2015, Pediatric Clinical News | Leave a comment

Kinematics identify subgroups of kids with CP and equinovarus

Treatment planning could benefit – Chicago researchers have identified clinically relevant subgroups based on foot and ankle kinematics in children with equinovarus secondary to hemiplegic cerebral palsy (CP) that could help improve treatment planning and clinical outcomes.

By Barbara Boughton

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Posted in May, 2015, Pediatric Clinical News | Leave a comment

Hip disorders in children with Down syndrome

As hip arthritis becomes a growing concern in adults with Down syndrome, clinicians are also becoming more attuned to hip issues in children with DS, in hopes that early intervention in the pediatric population will help reduce the risk of disability later on.

By Shalmali Pal

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Posted in Pediatric Feature, May, 2015 | Leave a comment

Sever disease: Intervene early to relieve symptoms

Once pain and inflammation have been addressed, clinicians can implement interventions—including orthotic devices, stretch­ing, and strengthening—to address the biomechanical factors that are believed to contribute to heel pain and other symptoms in this population.

By Erin Boutwell

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Posted in Pediatric Feature, May, 2015 | Leave a comment

Soft tissues may help determine response to Ponseti treatment

Children with idiopathic clubfoot who have relapses after treatment with the Ponseti method demonstrate different soft tissue abnormalities than children whose clubfoot is permanently corrected, according to research published in the August issue of the Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery.

By Erin Boutwell

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Posted in 2015, Pediatric Clinical News, February | Leave a comment

Study questions utility of adult balance test in concussed kids

With head trauma becoming increasingly worrisome in sports these days, a significant concern is whether the same protocols for clearing an athlete to return to sports should be used in both adults and children. Research from Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center suggests that the…

By Chris Klingenberg

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Posted in February, 2015, Pediatric Clinical News | Leave a comment

Shoe flexibility influences gait characteristics in early walkers

A recent study published in the winter issue of Pediatric Physical Therapy found that children just learning to walk may have altered gait characteristics when wearing flexible shoes.

By Erin Boutwell

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Posted in February, 2015, Pediatric Clinical News | Leave a comment