Background. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic was effective all over the world. The stay-athome period was proposed to protect against the pandemic. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic stay-at-home period on body structures and functions, activity and participation levels, and environmental factors of children with cerebral palsy (CP) from the parental perspective in Turkey.
Methods. A twenty-question survey, using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health for Children and Youth set to understand the functional changes of children with CP during the stay-athome period, was sent to parents in this prospective study. Motor function levels of children were determined by the Gross Motor Function Classification System parent report. The structural equation model was used for statistical analysis.
Results. One hundred and three parents of children with CP participated. At least one of four children with CP had increased levels of anxiety (41.8%), and increased level of a sensation of pain (34%) and sleep problems (25.2%). More than half of the children had increased tonus (67%), decreased range of motion (60.2%), decreased physical activity level (55.3%), and decreased support level of rehabilitation services (82.6%). During the stayat- home period activity and participation levels and environmental factors of children explained the changes of body functions as 70% and 33% (RMSEA=0.077, p < 0.05).
Conclusions. This study is the first study to examine the functional health of children with CP biopsychosocially during the COVID-19 stay-at-home period. According to the parents, the functional health of children with CP was affected at different levels during the COVID-19 pandemic. Body functions may also be affected positively if physical activity level, home program and environmental supports increase.
Background and Purpose: This case report investigated the benefits of a 12-week physical therapy program for a child with ataxia-telangiectasia (AT). Case Description: A 9-year-old girl with a diagnosis of AT participated. The physical therapy program consisted of balance and strength exercise and Wii Fit Balance-based video games training with a pediatric physical therapist for 12 weeks. Measurements: The motor performance, Gross Motor Function Measurement (GMFM), Pediatric Berg Balance Scale (PBBS), Trunk Control Measurement Scale (TCMS), participation as measured by the Life Habits Questionnaire (LIFE-H), and the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL). Outcomes: Positive changes were observed in the TCMS, PBBS, GMFM, and motor performance, participation, and quality of life. Conclusions: Notable improvements were observed in both body structure and function, and activities and participation level. What This Adds to Evidence: This case report is the first to support the effectiveness of physical therapy in a child with AT.
A home program is implemented as an evidence-based mode of delivering services for physiotherapy and rehabilitation. Telerehabilitation is a method applied in physiotherapy modalities for children. This study aims to determine the effectiveness of usual care plus a Telerehabilitation-Based Structured Home Program on preschool children with cerebral palsy (CP) compared to usual care. Forty-three children aged 3–6 years (mean age 4.66 ± 1.08 years) with CP were randomly assigned to the Telerehabilitation-Based Structured Home Program and usual care groups. Their motor function was assessed with the Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM); performance and satisfaction were evaluated with the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM); goal achievement was assessed with the Goal Attainment Scale (GAS); and activity and participation were evaluated with Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory (PEDI). Participants were evaluated at baseline, immediately post-intervention (12 weeks) and at follow-up (24 weeks). There was a statistically significant difference between pre- and post-test GMFM, COPM, GAS and PEDI scores in the intervention and control groups (p < 0.001). The Telerehabilitation-Based Structured Home Program showed statistically significant changes in activity, participation and goal achievement after 12 weeks of intervention (p < 0.001). However, significant results were not obtained in the usual care group. The Telerehabilitation-Based Structured Home Program may be an effective method for preschool children with CP. (Registration number: NCT04807790; no = KA-20124/26.01.2021).
Objectives: The Assessment of Life Habits (LIFE-H) is a well-known questionnaire used to evaluate participation. The aim of this study was to determine the reliability and validity of the Turkish version of the LIFE-H in children with Cerebral Palsy (CP). Patients and Methods: The study included 450 children with CP between the ages of 2-18 years old. The internal consistency and testretest reliability of the LIFE-H were calculated. The construct validity of the LIFE-H was determined with the Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory (PEDI) domains and Pediatric Outcome Data Collection Instrument (PODCI) subscales.Results: The mean age of the children was 8.37±5.13 years (42.4% female, 57.6% male). The internal consistency of the LIFE-H was determined to be acceptable for all categories (Cronbach alpha:0.794-0.999). The test-retest reliability values were found to be of good to excellent reliability (ICC:0.804-0.999). The correlation between the LIFE-H total scores, PODCI subscales and PEDI domains was determined as acceptable (rho between 0.538-0.894) except for the Pain/Comfort, Happiness subscales of the PODCI (rho:0.240 -0.479).Conclusions: It was determined that the Turkish LIFE-H had acceptable internal consistency, good test-retest reliability and satisfactory construct validity. Turkish LIFE-H is an appropriate tool to assess the participation of children and adolescents with CP.
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