Physical Therapy for a Child Poststroke With a Left Ventricular Assist Device

Should the Gross Motor Function Classification System be used for children who do not have cerebral palsy?

This literature review addressed four questions. (1) In which populations other than cerebral palsy (CP) has the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) been applied? (2) In what types of study, and why was it used? (3) How was it modified to facilitate these applications? (4) What justifications and evidence of psychometric adequacy were used to support its application? A search of PubMed, MEDLINE, and Embase databases (January 1997 to April 2017) using the terms: 'GMFCS' OR 'Gross Motor Function Classification System' yielded 2499 articles. 118 met inclusion criteria and reported children/adults with 133 health conditions/clinical descriptions other than CP. Three broad GMFCS applications were observed: as a categorization tool, independent variable, or outcome measure. While the GMFCS is widely used for children with health conditions/clinical description other than CP, researchers rarely provided adequate justification for these uses. We offer recommendations for development/validation of other condition-specific classification systems and discuss the potential need for a generic gross motor function classification system.

WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS

The Gross Motor Function Classification System should not be used outside cerebral palsy or as an outcome measure. The authors provide recommendations for development and validation of condition-specific or generic classification systems.

Rehabilitación cardiaca en pediatría: ¿qué dice la evidencia?

Introducción. En las últimas cuatro décadas, las organizaciones de la salud han reconocido que la rehabilitación cardíaca es un elemento esencial para la recuperación de pacientes con enfermedades cardiovasculares.Objetivo. Realizar un análisis de la evidencia sobre la implementación de un programa de rehabilitación cardiaca, basado en ejercicio físico, en una población pediátrica con alteraciones congénitas cardiacas.Materiales y métodos. Se buscó y analizó la evidencia disponible de programas de rehabilitación cardiaca, basada en ejercicio físico, en pacientes pediátricos con alteraciones congénitas. Para la búsqueda se emplearon los términos MeSH: “Rehabilitation”, “Exercise”, “Resistance Training” y “Pediatrics” y se hizo revisión en las bases de datos Ebsco, Pedro, Hinari, Elsevier, Science Direct, Springer y Medline.Resultados. Se encontró que la implementación de un programa de rehabilitación cardiaca en población pediátrica tiene resultados significativos en la calidad de vida de estos pacientes, pero necesita de parámetros como evaluación, protocolo de rehabilitación, prescripción del ejercicio físico y evaluación de la calidad de vida.Conclusiones. Es necesario crear un protocolo estandarizado y validado de rehabilitación cardiaca, basada en ejercicio físico, para la población pediátrica con enfermedades cardiacas congénitas.

Physical Therapy Dosing: Frequency and Type of Intervention in Pediatric Postacute Hospital Care

PURPOSE

To examine differences in physical therapy dosing frequency recommendations based on children's characteristics and to describe types of intervention recommended at postacute hospital admission.

METHODS

Demographic and clinical information, recommended physical therapy intervention frequency, and intervention types were collected for all admissions from April 1, 2015, to March 1, 2016. Differences across 2 groups, children with recommendations for "less" (≤3x/wk) or "more" (≥4x/wk) frequent therapy, were examined. Types of interventions recommended were described and the measure of association between frequency and type was determined.

RESULTS

Older children, those with higher admission functional scores, and children with less dependence on medical technology were recommended for "more." Therapeutic exercise was the most common intervention recommended. Greater physical therapy frequency was associated with Functional Training and Motor Function Training.

CONCLUSION

Children's age, functional level, and technology dependence influence dosing recommendations. Interventions focused on function are associated with greater physical therapy frequency.