Volume 31, Issue 2, Part 1

1. Does Weight Status Impact Metabolic Health in Adolescents When Controlling for Physical Fitness?

Adolescent overweight and obesity and its correlation with metabolic syndrome—the collection of signs from simple tests that predict for diabetes, heart disease and other non-communicable conditions later in life—has been researched by a group of pediatric physical therapists and a multidisciplinary team from Wisconsin and North Carolina who looked at whether being physically fit—even though you’re overweight—can protect you.

INTERVIEWEE: Stacy Stolzman PT, PhD Assistant Professor of Exercise Physiology, Concordia Wisconsin)

Co-authors: Joseph Skelton, April Harkins and Marie Hoeger Bement

Determines if adolescents who are fit with overweight/obesity are similar in their metabolic profile to adolescents who are fit and normal weight.

2. Relationship between Torticollis and Gastroesophageal Reflux Disorder in Infants

Torticolis in infants has an association with gastro-esophageal reflux disorder: GERD. Light has been thrown on the nature if that relationship by a new study just out in Pediatric Physical Therapy journal.

INTERVIEWEE: Deborah Bercik and Stephanie Westrick, Children’s Hospital for Rehabilitation, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland OH)

Co-authors: Susan Diemer, Sarah Worley, and Ryan Suder
This study investigates a correlation between congenital muscular torticollis and gastroesophageal reflux disorder.

3. An Exploration of Parental Satisfaction with an Advanced Practice Physical Therapy Clinic in Pediatric Orthopedics
A pioneering approach to pediatric orthopedic issues has been investigated in Dublin, Ireland. Instead of referring patients directly to a consultant orthopedic surgeon children are examined by a specialist physical therapy team. Marie O’Mir tells the podcast this has been a big success.

INTERVIEWEE: Marie O Mir BSc (Physio), MISCP, Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin, Dublin, Ireland

Co-authors: Cliona O’ Sullivan, Catherine Blake, and Olive Lennon

This study evaluated parent satisfaction of patients attending a novel advanced practice physical therapy clinic in pediatric orthopedics.

4. Physical Therapy Outcome Measures for Assessment of Lower Extremity Chronic Pain-related Function in Pediatrics.

New research on physical therapy outcome measures has been published in Pediatric Physical Therapy journal for assessing function in children who are chronically affected by lower extremity pain. Elizabeth Mirek tells the podcast about the utilization of previously established standard measures in evaluations for a growing population of children with chronic lower extremity pain.

INTERVIEWEE: Elizabeth Mirek PT, DPT, PCS, Department of Physical Therapy & Occupational Therapy Services, Boston Children’s Hospital

Co-authors: Deirdre Logan, Kimberly Boullard, Amber M. Hall, Steven J. Staffa, and Navil Sethna

Assesses the clinical utility of 5 PT outcome measures in quantifying functional changes in pediatric lower extremity chronic pain treated at a hospital-based interdisciplinary rehabilitation center.

5. Daily and weekly rehabilitation delivery for young children with gross motor delay: a research protocol

A study protocol has just been announced by a team led by Jill Heathcock who discusses their upcoming work on delivering rehabilitation for young children with gross motor delay

INTERVIEWEE: Jill Heathcock PT PhD, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH

Co-authors: Rachel Ferrante, Sarah Hendershot, Kathleen Baronet, Gardenia Barbosa, Helen Carey, Nathalie Maitre, Warren Lo, Jeff Pan

The proposed project tests an hypothesis that frequency of rehabilitation is an important regulator of therapeutic response in infants and does not test the efficacy of a type of treatment.