Category Archives: May

Age-based patterns of patellar maltracking require tailored care      

PFP etiology differs in adults, kids – Patellar maltracking persists in adolescent girls with patellofemoral pain (PFP) even as symptoms improve, according to a study from Maryland, which suggests the etiology of PFP differs between adolescents and adults and should be managed accordingly.

By Katie Bell

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Posted in May, Pediatric Clinical News, 2017 | Leave a comment

Fine-tuning orthotic device prescription, fitting in CP

The heterogeneity of cerebral palsy means individual responses to orthotic devices vary widely. Moving beyond standardized  care to match orthotic prescriptions to each child’s unique gait issues, as well as to their individual footwear needs, however, will likely improve outcomes for all.

By P.K. Daniel

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Posted in May, 2017, Pediatric Feature | Leave a comment

Growth-plate injuries: a diagnostic challenge

Physeal trauma can be hard to spot, and mismanagement can disturb normal development and lead to lower extremity issues,  such as limb-length discrepancy and  abnormal biomechanics. A thorough clinical exam, including details of the moment of injury, is often key to accurate diagnosis.

By Shalmali Pal

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Posted in Pediatric Feature, May, 2017 | Leave a comment

Lower body conditioning may cut upper body injury risk in softball

Safety of underhand pitch is over-rated – Better pre- and off-season lower-body conditioning may help prevent some serious overuse injuries to the upper extremities of young female fast-pitch softball players, according to the lead author of a recent prospective study of player-reported injuries.

By Hank Black

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Posted in May, 2016, Pediatric Clinical News | Leave a comment

Excess weight affects foot loading, peak pressure even in young kids    

Weight loss may improve function – Overweight and obese children present with higher overall foot loading and a disproportional impact on the midfoot and longitudinal arch, with those as young as 1 or 2 years of age affected, according to research from Germany that may have implications for abnormal foot loading prevention in children.

By Katie Bell

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Posted in May, 2016, Pediatric Clinical News | Leave a comment

Walking study in CP highlights need for tailored orthotic prescription

Effects of AFOs on distance, speed vary – A recent study demonstrates the importance of personalizing prescriptions for ankle foot orthoses (AFOs) in children with cerebral palsy, rather than applying group data to individuals.

By Larry Hand

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Posted in May, 2016, Pediatric Clinical News | Leave a comment

When the shoe doesn’t fit: footwear in Down syndrome

These children often have wider, more flexible, and more pronated feet than typically developing kids that don’t fit well into conven­tionally sized and shaped footwear. Ill-fitting shoes are linked to foot-specific disability and many other issues. Here, clinicians share strategies for finding the right fit.

By Lori Roniger

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Posted in Pediatric Feature, May, 2016 | Leave a comment

Look out below: injury risk on the trampoline

Trampoline use, both in backyards and in large recreational parks, is up. So are injuries incurred on the equipment, including fractures with potentially serious long-term sequelae. Some groups advise  a ban on home use, but other experts disagree, citing the equipment’s benefits for motor learning and active play.

By P.K. Daniel

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Posted in Pediatric Feature, May, 2016 | 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 2015, Pediatric Clinical News, May | 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