Carel G. B. Maathuis

Early motor repertoire is related to level of self-mobility in children with cerebral palsy at school age.

Aim  To determine the predictive value of the early motor repertoire for the level of self‐mobility in children with cerebral palsy (CP) at school age.

Neural correlates of developmental coordination disorder

To review neuroimaging studies in children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD) systematically. Because only a few studies addressed this, we broadened our search and included neuroimaging studies in children with perinatal adversities and motor impairment without cerebral palsy.

LEARN 2 MOVE 0-2 years: effects of a new intervention program in infants at very high risk for cerebral palsy; a randomized controlled trial.

BackgroundIt is widely accepted that infants at risk for cerebral palsy need paediatric physiotherapy. However, there is little evidence for the efficacy of physiotherapeutic intervention. Recently, a new intervention program, COPCA (Coping with and Caring for infants with special needs - a family centered program), was developed. COPCA has educational and motor goals. A previous study indicated that the COPCA-approach is associated with better developmental outcomes for infants at high risk for developmental disorders. LEARN 2 MOVE 0-2 years evaluates the efficacy and the working mechanisms of the COPCA program in infants at very high risk for cerebral palsy in comparison to the efficacy of traditional infant physiotherapy in a randomized controlled trial. The objective is to evaluate the effects of both intervention programs on motor, cognitive and daily functioning of the child and the family and to get insight in the working elements of early intervention methods.Methods/designInfants are included at the corrected age of 1 to 9 months and randomized into a group receiving COPCA and a group receiving traditional infant physiotherapy. Both interventions are given once a week during one year. Measurements are performed at baseline, during and after the intervention period and at the corrected age of 21 months. Primary outcome of the study is the Infant Motor Profile, a qualitative evaluation instrument of motor behaviour in infancy. Secondary measurements focus on activities and participation, body functions and structures, family functioning, quality of life and working mechanisms. To cope with the heterogeneity in physiotherapy, physiotherapeutic sessions are video-recorded three times (baseline, after 6 months and at the end of the intervention period). Physiotherapeutic actions will be quantified and related to outcome.DiscussionLEARN 2 MOVE 0-2 years evaluates and explores the effects of COPCA and TIP. Whatever the outcome of the project, it will improve our understanding of early intervention in children with cerebral palsy. Such knowledge is a prerequisite for tailor-made guidance of children with CP and their families.Trial registrationThe trial is registered under NTR1428.

Handwriting, visuomotor integration, and neurological condition at school age

Aim  The study investigated the relationships between handwriting, visuomotor integration, and neurological condition. We paid particular attention to the presence of minor neurological dysfunction (MND).

Risk factors for emergence and progression of scoliosis in children with severe cerebral palsy: a systematic review

Aim  Scoliosis is a frequently occurring and serious complication of severe cerebral palsy (CP). This systematic review aims to the assess the risk factors associated with the emergence and progression of scoliosis in children with CP functioning at level IV or V of the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS).

Limited motor performance and minor neurological dysfunction at school age

Aim:  To investigate the relationship between motor performance and minor neurological dysfunction (MND) at school age.

Health-Related Physical Fitness in Dutch Children With Developmental Coordination Disorder

Objective: To compare components of health-related physical fitness between Dutch children with clinically diagnosed developmental coordination disorder (DCD) and typically developing children (TDC), and to examine associations between motor performance problems and components of health-related fitness in children with DCD. Methods: A multicenter case-control study was used to compare health-related physical fitness in children with DCD (N = 38; age, 7–12 years; 10 girls and 28 boys) with that in age- and gender-matched TDC. Motor coordination problems (manual dexterity, ball and balance skills) were assessed using the Movement Assessment Battery for Children. Health-related physical fitness was indicated by (1) cardiorespiratory fitness, (2) muscle strength, and (3) body mass index. Results: Significantly lower values of cardiorespiratory fitness (6.7% lower maximal cardiorespiratory fitness) were found in children with DCD compared with TDC. Extension and flexion of the elbow and flexion of the knee were also significantly lower (by 15.3%, 16.7%, and 18.4%, respectively) in DCD children compared with TDC. A significant negative and large association was found between cardiorespiratory fitness and balance performance. Conclusion: Lower cardiorespiratory fitness and muscle strength in children with clinically diagnosed DCD compared with TDC support the importance of examining and training cardiorespiratory fitness and muscle strength, besides the regular attention for motor coordination problems.

Adaptive seating systems in children with severe cerebral palsy across International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health for Children and Youth version domains: a systematic review

The aim of this study was to systematically review the effect of adaptive seating systems (AdSSs) in young people less than 19 years of age with severe cerebral palsy (CP), with particular focus on child‐related outcomes across all components of the functioning and disability domains of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health for Children and Youth version (ICF‐CY).

A systematic evaluation of the effect of thumb opponens splints on hand function in children with unilateral spastic cerebral palsy

Objective: To examine the effects of a neoprene thumb opponens splint on hand function during a self-selected activities of daily living task in children with unilateral spastic cerebral palsy with thumb-in-palm position of the affected hand. Design: Systematic evaluation of seven cases using a multiple baseline design across individuals. Setting: Outpatient clinic. Subjects: Seven children with unilateral cerebral palsy (2–7 years old), Manual Ability Classification System level 2–3 participated in the study. Interventions: Neoprene thumb opponens splints (McKie splint) were used. Children were followed for about four months. Baseline period ranged from 4 to 9 weeks, intervention period was two months and duration of follow-up one month. Main measures: Hand function was assessed using goal attainment scaling and visual analogue scales. Data was assessed visually. Results: In four children goal attainment scaling and/or visual analogue scale scores increased after introducing the splint. These effects remained when splints were not worn. Two children only benefited from the splint when it was worn. Thumb opponens splints were tolerated well by all children who participated in this study. Conclusions: Thumb opponens splints may have a positive effect on hand function in children with unilateral spastic cerebral palsy.

Age at first prosthetic fitting and later functional outcome in children and young adults with unilateral congenital below-elbow deficiency: A cross-sectional study

The objective of this study was to evaluate whether prosthetic fitting before the age of one year is associated with better outcomes in children with unilateral congenital below-elbow deficiency compared to children fitted after the age of one. Twenty subjects aged 6–21 years were recruited (five prosthetic users and 15 non-users). The Child Amputee Prosthetics Project-Prosthesis Satisfactory Inventory (CAPP-PSI) and the Prosthetic Upper Extremity Functional Index (PUFI) were used to assess patient satisfaction and functional use of the prosthesis. Videotapes were used to assess motor performance. Initial prosthetic fitting before one year of age was related to use of a prosthesis for at least four years. Age at first fitting was not associated with satisfaction with the prosthesis, functional use of the prosthesis or motor skills. Discrepancies between ease of performance with prosthesis and usefulness of the prosthesis as well as between capacity and performance of activities were found. The video assessments showed impaired movement adaptation to some tasks in six subjects. In conclusion, early prosthetic fitting seems to have a limited impact on prosthesis use during later stages of life.