Journal of Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine - Volume 16, issue 1

Authors: Karatekin, Bilinc Dogruoz | Kacar, Gulnihal | Icagasioglu, Afitap

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: PURPOSE: Obesity prevalence and the relationship between obesity and motor function in children with ambulatory cerebral palsy (CP) were investigated. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study. The obesity profile of 75 children aged 2–18 years with ambulatory CP was investigated. GMFCS levels were recorded, and BMI was calculated using height and weight data and converted into Z-scores. Age- and gender-specific growth charts were used for children and adolescents. RESULTS: The mean BMI of the participants was 17.78, with an obesity rate of 18.67% and an overweight rate of 16%. Gross motor function was found to be …associated with height, weight, and BMI (p  < 0.05). No relationship was found between obesity + overweight and gender and CP subtype (p  > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Turkish children with CP had a higher rate of obesity compared to typically developing peers and also their counterparts in other countries. There is a need for studies to identify the causes of obesity and to develop effective intervention programs for prevention of it in children with CP. Show more

Keywords: Cerebral palsy, obesity, overweight, GMFCS, ambulatory

DOI: 10.3233/PRM-210093

Citation: Journal of Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine, vol. 16, no. 1, pp. 195-202, 2023

Authors: Gbonjubola, Yusuf Tunde | Fatudimu, Margaret Bukola | Hamzat, Talhatu Kolapo

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: PURPOSE: The demands of caring for children with cerebral palsy (CWCP) may lead to burnout among the informal caregivers of these children. However, this subject area has not received significant research attention in Nigeria. The primary aim of this study was to investigate the association between burnout level of informal caregivers of CWCP and the motor performance of the CWCP. The association between burnout level of the informal caregivers and selected clinical variables of CWCP was also investigated. METHODS: This is a descriptive study of 75 consecutively-sampled informal caregivers (34.76±8.7 years) of CWCP and an equal number of …their CWCP. Burnout level of the caregivers and motor performance of the CWCP were assessed using the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (CBI) and Gross Motor Function Classification System Family Questionnaire (GMFCSFQ) respectively. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse results at alpha = 0.05. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant positive association between the CBI scores and the GMFCSFQ scores (p  < 0.05). Age of the CWCP as well as type and topography of the cerebral palsy were not significantly associated with the caregivers’ burnout level. Similarly, the age and sex of the caregivers had no statistically significant association with their burnout level (p  > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Caregiving for children with lower motor performance is associated with higher burnout among caregivers. This may impact negatively on the overall health of the caregivers and the quality of care for the CWCP. Show more

Keywords: Cerebral palsy, informal caregivers, burnout

DOI: 10.3233/PRM-200675

Citation: Journal of Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine, vol. 16, no. 1, pp. 203-209, 2023

Authors: Shetty, Triveni | Ganesan, Sailakshmi | Johari, Ashok | Mullerpatan, Rajani

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: PURPOSE: The current study aimed to explore Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM) profiles among children with cerebral palsy (CP) at various Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) levels in a low-resource setting. METHODS: Ambulatory capacity of children with CP was classified using GMFCS levels. Functional ability of all participants was measured using GMFM-88. Seventy-one ambulatory children with CP (61% males), were studied after signed informed consent was obtained from parents and assent from children older than 12 years. RESULTS: Children with CP in a low-resource setting had 12–44% lower GMFM scores in dimensions of standing, walking, …running, and jumping with reference to children from high-resource settings with similar ambulatory capacity reported previously. The most affected components across various GMFCS levels were ‘sitting on a large and small bench from floor,’ ‘arm-free squatting,’ ‘half-kneeling,’ ‘kneel-walking,’ and ‘single-limb hop’. CONCLUSION: Knowledge of GMFM profiles can guide clinicians and policymakers in low-resource settings for strategic rehabilitation planning and extend the focus of rehabilitation from restoration of body structure and function to the wider domain of social participation in leisure, sport, work, and the community at large. Additionally, providing tailored rehabilitation based on a profile of motor function can ensure an economically, environmentally, and socially sustainable future. Show more

Keywords: Motor function, low-resource, GMFM dimensions, standing, walking, running, jumping, low-resource setting

DOI: 10.3233/PRM-220039

Citation: Journal of Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine, vol. 16, no. 1, pp. 211-218, 2023

Authors: Daunter, Alecia K. | Pruente, Jessica | Bowman, Angeline | Whitney, Daniel G.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: PURPOSE: Existing evidence identifies racial and ethnic disparities impacting the prevalence and severity of cerebral palsy (CP). There is a paucity of literature examining the impact on associated treatment. METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study, an institutional database search identified outpatient encounters for pediatric patients with spastic CP. Additional filters were used to determine treatments received. For each treatment, the proportion of African American (AA) patients receiving treatment was compared to the proportion of Caucasian (C) patients receiving the same treatment. RESULTS: 3,686 children with spastic CP were seen in outpatient clinics associated with an academic …tertiary hospital over a 21-year period. There was no significant difference between the proportion of any treatment compared to the entire sample for AA or C patients. CONCLUSION: In this sample, there was no significant evidence of a racial disparity for AA patients receiving treatments for spasticity. This data is limited by several factors. Further research is needed to determine whether pediatric patients with disabilities are receiving equitable care. Clinicians should consider systematically monitoring their practices to identify areas of bias or inequity in accessing care. Show more

Keywords: Race, spasticity, cerebral palsy, treatment

DOI: 10.3233/PRM-210094

Citation: Journal of Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine, vol. 16, no. 1, pp. 219-222, 2023

Authors: Nishibu, Hisato | Seino, Tsugumi Hosokawa | Himuro, Nobuaki

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: PURPOSE: The study sought to examine the content validity, the intra- and inter-rater reliability, and concurrent validity of the Japanese versions of the Manual Ability Classification System, the Communication Function Classification System, and the Eating and Drinking Ability Classification System, and representation of the distribution of the levels of each classification systems in comparison to the Gross Motor Function Classification System levels for children with cerebral palsy. METHODS: The Japanese versions were developed using the back-translation method. For content validity, professionals were asked to complete a questionnaire including items on the appropriateness of the translation, its validity, and …distinctions among levels. For reliability, professionals used the three classification systems twice in children with cerebral palsy. For concurrent validity, relationships among the four classification systems were examined by correlation analyses. RESULTS: Participants included twenty-one professionals and 290 children with cerebral palsy (mean age: 12 years two months, female: 132, male: 158). The content validity was generally good. For reliability, the lower limit of the 95% confidence interval for the intraclass correlation coefficients was greater than 0.89, and the correlation coefficients were high. CONCLUSION: The results of this study showed good reliability and validity of the functional classification systems in Japan. Show more

Keywords: Cerebral palsy, manual ability classification system, communication function classification system, eating and drinking ability classification system

DOI: 10.3233/PRM-210098

Citation: Journal of Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine, vol. 16, no. 1, pp. 223-233, 2023

Authors: MacCarthy, Matthew

Article Type: Article Commentary

DOI: 10.3233/PRM-220114

Citation: Journal of Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine, vol. 16, no. 1, pp. 235-236, 2023

Article Type: Correction

DOI: 10.3233/PRM-239001

Citation: Journal of Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine, vol. 16, no. 1, pp. 237-237, 2023