Obesity and Motor Skills:

Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly reports on recent research that concluded obese children scored significantly less than overweight or normal peers on the MABC in ball skills, balance and manual dexterity.

Reference:  Eva D'Hondt, Benedicte Deforche, Ilse De Bourdeaudhuij, Matthieu Lenoir Relationship Between Motor Skill and Body Mass Index in 5- to 10-Year-Old Children

APAQ, 26(1), January 2009 Phenol Block in Children with CP The American Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation reports on research that indicated the a selective phenol block of the obturator nerve controlled spasticity in children with cerebral palsy.  Improved hip range of motion was successful for at least 6 months. Reference:   Kwon, Jeong-Yi MD, PhD; Kim, Joon-Sung MD, PhD Selective Blocking of the Anterior Branch of the Obturator Nerve in Children with Cerebral Palsy American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation. 88(1):7-13, January 2009. GMFCS after 2 years old Recent research indicated that children should be re-assessed after 2 years old on the Gross Motor Function Classification System.  The GMFCS does not seem to be as reliable in infants as in children.   Of the 77 infants studied, 42% had to be reclassified after 2 years old with the majority classified to a lower level. Reference:  JAN WILLEM GORTER MD PHD FRCP(C) 1 ; MARJOLIJN KETELAAR PHD 2 ; PETER ROSENBAUM MD FRCP(C) 1 ; PAUL JM HELDERS PHD MSC PT PCS 3 ; ROBERT PALISANO PT SCD Use of the GMFCS in infants with CP: the need for reclassification at age 2 years or older Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology Volume 51 Issue 1, Pages 46 - 52