Regular physical activity is an important component of physical health of children and has been associated with increasing skeletal muscle mass and muscle strength. Children with low levels of physical activity may experience health problems, such as loss of muscle mass, later in life. Thus, it may be valuable to identify declining physical function in children who do not perform the recommended amount of physical activity. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the relationship between the amount of physical activity performed for ≥60 min per day for ≥5 days per week and the skeletal muscle mass index and physical function in young children. In total, 340 typically developing children aged 6–12 years (175 girls; average age, 9.5±1.9 years) were included in this cross-sectional study. We evaluated the proportion of children performing the recommended minimum of 60 min of daily moderate-to-vigorous physical activity at least 5 days per week. The skeletal muscle mass and Gait Deviation Index scores, gait speed, grip strength, Five Times Sit-to-Stand test results, Timed Up-and-Go test results, one-leg standing time, and gait efficiency were evaluated. Multiple logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the association of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity with the skeletal muscle mass index, percent body fat, and physical function, after controlling for confounding factors (age and sex). A logistic regression analysis revealed that the skeletal muscle mass index was independently associated with moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (odds ratio, 2.34; 95% confidence interval, 1.17–4.71; P = 0.017). Performance of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity for ≥5 days per week for ≥60 min per day was associated with the skeletal muscle mass index score of Japanese children. Our findings highlighted the importance of performing moderate-to-vigorous physical activity for the development of skeletal muscle mass in children.
In April 2020, the Japanese government declared a state of emergency due to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Schools were closed and a stay-at-home order was issued in April and May 2020. This before-and-after study aimed to measure the effects of these COVID-19-related restrictions on physical function among Japanese children. The study included children aged 6–7 years, enrolled before and after the emergency declaration. Their body fat percentage, single-leg standing time, Gait Deviation Index score, and history of falls were compared. There were 56 and 54 children in the before and after groups, respectively. Children in the after group had a higher body fat percentage (p = 0.037), shorter single-leg standing time (p = 0.003), and a larger number of falls per month (p < 0.001) than those in the before group. In the logistic regression analysis, children in the after group had a significantly shorter single-leg standing time (odds ratio (OR): 0.985, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.972−0.997, p = 0.013), a greater number of falls per month (OR: 1.899, 95% CI: 1.123−3.210, p = 0.017), and a higher body fat percentage (OR: 1.111, 95% CI: 1.016−1.215, p = 0.020) than those in the before group. The COVID-19 emergency restrictions had a negative effect on children’s physical function, especially on balance.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of calcaneal lengthening in the treatment of planovalgus foot deformity of children with spastic cerebral palsy. Sixteen children (27 feet) with spastic cerebral palsy underwent calcaneal lengthening along with peroneal tendons. The results were assessed clinically and radiographically. Over an average of 3.2 years of follow-up (2.0-5.0), 20 (74.1%) feet showed a satisfactory clinical result, and 21 (77.8%) feet showed a satisfactory radiographic result, according to the modified Mosca's criteria. Dependent ambulators with severe pes planovalgus showed unsatisfactory results compared with independent ambulators with mild to moderate pes planovalgus. These findings suggest that for severe pes planovalgus of children with cerebral palsy, it may be difficult to correct the foot deformity by calcaneal lengthening with peroneal tendons.
We reviewed the serial radiographs of 54 hips in 47 children treated by closed reduction for congenital dislocation of the hip and followed to at least 14 years of age, to determine the causes of acetabular dysplasia. We excluded hips with femoral head deformity or residual subluxation and compared the results with those from a control series of unaffected hips of patients with unilateral CDH. Acetabular development after the age of 11 or 12 years was significantly worse in Severin group III than in Severin group I hips on the affected side or Severin group III in unaffected control hips. One of the causes of acetabular dysplasia at maturity was found to be impairment of acetabular development after 11 or 12 years of age. This may be attributable to impaired secondary ossification in the acetabular rim. Our findings emphasise the importance of continuing the follow-up of patients treated for congenital dislocation of the hip until full skeletal maturity.
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