Category Archives: Pediatric Clinical News
May 2017
Gait metrics highlight gender differences after concussion
Girls show more postinjury changes – A recent study’s findings related to dual-task gait analysis in adolescents add to the body of evidence suggesting that concussion effects differ between male and female patients.
By Hank Black
May 2017
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
February 2017
Shoes add to energy cost of gait compared with barefoot walking
Footwear should allow dynamic activity – A recent study of the metabolic costs of barefoot versus shod walking found walking in shoes required a higher energy expenditure and had a poorer economy than barefoot walking. These outcomes suggest going barefoot may be preferable for children whenever it is deemed…
By Greg Gargiulo
February 2017
Sensor data quantify clubfoot patients’ reported, real brace use
Parents overestimate wear times – Researchers who used temperature-sensitive devices to measure brace-use adherence in children with clubfoot found parents overestimate brace wear time when reporting to clinicians and that children are not in their braces as long as their doctors recommend.
By Peaches Yeilding
February 2017
Martial arts students at risk for lower extremity injury, sequelae
Traumas increase with age, skill level – Martial arts participation has numerous benefits for children and adolescents, but it also has its risks—including lower extremity injury, according to a recent clinical report and literature review published by…
By Chris Klingenberg
November 2016
Early motor skills training in ASD improves locomotion, socialization
Intense therapy creates quick gains – Intense motor skills interventions in young children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can significantly improve locomotor and other lower extremity skills in addition to socialization behaviors, according to a recent pilot study.
By Peaches Scribner
November 2016
AFO effects on gastrocnemius underscore heterogeneity of CP
Variations call for adjustable devices – Outfitting pediatric cerebral palsy (CP) patients with two types of ankle foot orthoses (AFOs) elicited various effects, as the medial gastrocnemius operating length in some—but not all—participants was consequently stretched while walking, according to a recent study.
By Greg Gargiulo
November 2016
Home-based ACL injury prevention program fails the compliance test
Oversight, feedback may up buy-in – The idea of injury prevention training in the comfort of one’s own home is appealing on many levels, and researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison are taking steps toward making that type of training feasible and effective for young athletes.
By Chris Klingenberg
August 2016
Bilateral long-jump practice ups takeoff leg performance
Benefits persist 3 weeks after training – Bilateral practice should be established early in youth long-jump training programs to improve the jumping performance of their dominant (takeoff) leg, according to research from Karlsruhe, Germany, that may have implications for other track and field events.
By Katie Bell
August 2016
Surgery beats conservative care for first-time kneecap dislocations
Less recurrence, better sports outcomes – Adolescent patients with first-time acute patellar dislocations treated surgically have a lower risk for recurrent dislocation and higher knee-related quality of life and sports-related outcomes compared with those managed…
By Greg Gargiulo