Volume 35, Issue 4

INTERVIEWS IN THIS EDITION: Studio Guest: Linda Fetters PhD, PT, FAPTA University of Southern California, Los Angeles, Pediatric Physical Therapy Editor-in-Chief, adds her comments and reflections on clinical implications arising from the research discussed in the podcast by Pediatric Physical Therapy authors.

Author Interviews:

1. Catie Christensen PT DPT PCS, Evidence Based Practice Coordinator, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, Ohio, USA “2022 APTA Pediatrics Knowledge Translation Lecture: Clinicians and Researchers Collaborate to Implement a Segmental Approach to Trunk Control” Christensen discusses her team’s detailed investigation of how collaboration between clinicians and researchers can help implement the “segmental approach” to trunk control in patients with cerebral palsy.

2. Kate L. McLeod, Queensland Cerebral Palsy & Rehabilitation Research Centre, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia. “Effect of Active Motor Learning Interventions on Gross Motor Function and Mobility in Children Aged 2 to 6 Years With Bilateral Cerebral Palsy: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis “ McLeod tells the podcast about her group’s meta-analysis of studies investigating active-motor learning interventions among children with bilateral cerebral palsy.

3. Stacey C. Dusing PT PhD FAPTA PCS, Sykes Family Chair of Pediatric Physical Therapy, Health, and Development, Division of Biokinesiology & Physical Therapy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA. “Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on a Clinical Trial: A Quantitative Report on Study Engagement and Strategies” Research on physical therapy practice during the COVID pandemic suggests that lessons have been learned and that clinicians will be better prepared for a future pandemic. Dusing tells the podcast about her group’s report in Pediatric Physical Therapy on a study of infants in a rehabilitation clinical trial, that took place before and during COVID.

4. Kelly E. Rock PT, DPT, PhD, PCS, currently Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Physical Therapy, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA and former PhD student at the Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA, discusses: “Muscle Properties, Gross Motor Performance, and Quality of Life in Children With Sickle Cell Disease”. The group looked at muscle properties and motor performance as metrics to guide and individualize physical therapy plans for children with sickle-cell disease. Rock explains how these outcome measures can provide an evidence-base for therapy planning.

5. Kimberley S. Scott PT DPT PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Physical Therapy, Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska, USA. “Fidelity of Delivery in a Multisite Randomized Clinical Trial of Intervention Efficacy for Infants With Unilateral Cerebral Palsy” For children with unilateral cerebral palsy, the consistency of interventions between centers and between individual clinicians has been checked in a new study. Scott tells the podcast about her group’s investigation of the fidelity of therapy delivery in a multi-site randomized clinical trial.

6. Jodi Thomas DHSc, School of Physical Therapy, Texas Woman’s University, Dallas, Texas, USA “The Head Control Scale: Responsiveness and Concurrent Validity With the Alberta Infant Motor Scale” Although head control holds the key to a number of developmental issues it’s not easy to measure objectively in a new-born infant. Thomas talks about the validation of her group’s recently developed “Head Control Scale” as an accurate measure of head control in young children.

7. Melissa McIntyre PT DPT, Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA. “Daily Quantity and Kinematic Characteristics of Leg Movement in a Child With SMA Type I” The rare genetic condition: Spinal Muscular Atrophy, or SMA, can now be treated with specific molecular drugs or gene therapy. These treatments alter disease progression, resulting in improved motor function and development. In the best of cases, infants who previously had dismal outlooks and very short survivals can demonstrate near-typical motor development. McIntyre talks about her case study, giving insights into physical therapy for neonates and young children with SMA who demonstrate previously unseen development trajectories and motor achievements.