Research on Occupational and Physical Therapy

Disclaimer: These pages are
not intended to provide medical
advice or physician/therapist
instruction. Information
provided should not be used
for diagnostic or training
purposes. Consult a therapist
or physician regarding specific
diagnoses or medical advice.

Botox and Serial Casting
The Journal of Pediatric Orthopedics reports on a recent pilot study regarding immediate serial casting
versus delayed casting by 4 weeks following botox injections in the gastrocs. The results of this study
indicated that greater range of motion was achieved and decreased pain was reported in the delayed
casting group of children. Range of motion measurements were taken at 3 months and 6 months post
botox injections.

Reference: Newman, C MD, Kennedy, A PT, Walsh, M. PT, et al (2008) A Pilot Study of Delayed Versus
Immediate Serial Casting After Botulinum Toxin Injection for Partially Reducible Spastic Equinus.
Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics. 27(8):882-885, December 2007.

MARCH 2008 RECENT RESEARCH:

Conductive Education and Hand Function
Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation reports that conductive education improved hand
functions during activities of daily living in children with cerebral palsy although there was no effect on
elementary hand functions.

Reference: Blank, R. MD, von Kries, R. MD, Heese, S. MD, vonVoss, H. MD. (2008) Conductive Education
for Children With Cerebral Palsy: Effects on Hand Motor Functions Relevant to Activities of Daily Living.
Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitaiton 89(2): 251-259.

Fine Motor Skills and Amblyopia
Investigative Ophthalmology and and Visual Science reports that children with a diagnosis of amblyopia
("lazy eye") when compared to control group had significantly decreased fine motor skills especially with
regards to manual dexterity tasks that required speed and accuracy.

Reference: Ann L. Webber, Joanne M. Wood, Glen A. Gole, and Brian Brown The Effect of Amblyopia on
Fine Motor Skills in Children Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 49: 594-603.

Risk Factors and ADHD
The most recent issue of Pediatrics reports on the Etiologic Classification of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity
Disorder. The author, Dr. J. Gordon Millichap, MD, FRCP, provides an overview of risk factors and
considerations for ADHD. He reports on prenatal risk factors such as prematurity, maternal smoking and
alcohol use and more. Some childhood illnesses put a child at risk for ADHD such as virus infections,
meningitis, encephalitis, head injury, epilepsy and toxins. Dr. Millichap recommends early diagnosis to
better manage the disorder.

Reference: Millichap, J. Gordon Etiologic Classification of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
Pediatrics 2008 121: e358-e365

Prematurity Effects at 12 Years of Age
Pediatrics reports on recent research comparing 12 year old children with a birth history of prematurity
(without neonatal brain injury) versus full term infants. The 29 children studied with prematurity had
significantly different scores with regards to full scale, verbal and performance IQ and Developmental
Visual Motor Integration. In addition, imaging studies showed decreased fiber tract organization in the 12
year old brains of the preterm group.

Reference: Constable, R. Todd, Ment, Laura R., Vohr, Betty R., Kesler, Shelli R., Fulbright, Robert K.,
Lacadie, Cheryl, Delancy, Susan, Katz, Karol H., Schneider, Karen C., Schafer, Robin J., Makuch, Robert W.,
Reiss, Allan R. Prematurely Born Children Demonstrate White Matter Microstructural Differences at 12
Years of Age, Relative to Term Control Subjects: An Investigation of Group and Gender Effects Pediatrics
2008 121: 306-316.