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Disorders of Motor, Somatic and Cognitive Development in Children with...
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Disorders of Motor, Somatic and Cognitive Development in Children with Neurodysfunctions

A special issue of Children (ISSN 2227-9067). This special issue belongs to the section "Child Neurology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 November 2020) | Viewed by 41872

Printed Edition Available!
A printed edition of this Special Issue is available here.

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Agnieszka Guzik

E-Mail
Guest Editor
Institute of Health Sciences, University of Rzeszów, 35-310 Rzeszów, Poland
Interests: postural stability; balance; gait analysis; physiotherapy; musculoskeletal rehabilitation; neurorehabilitation; stroke
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Lidia Perenc

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Health Sciences, College of Medical Sciences, University of Rzeszów, 35-959 Rzeszów, Kopisto 2a st., Poland
Interests: Anthropometry; somatic growth; cognitive and social development; health behaviors
Prof. Dr. Mariusz Drużbicki

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Health Sciences, College of Medical Sciences, University of Rzeszów, 35-959 Rzeszów, Kopisto 2a st., Poland
Interests: Neurorehabilitation; gait; biofeedback; neurodysfunctions

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Dysfunctions in a child’s nervous system may be caused by numerous factors: genetic, contagious physical, chemical, or environmental. The prevalence of neurodysfunctions in pediatric populations is relatively high, compared to defects of other systems. This is linked to the fact that the development of the specific structures of the nervous system occurs over a relatively long period of time, during which the processes are affected by harmful factors. It may be difficult to accurately identify the cause, even in half of the children affected by the condition. The dysfunctions of the nervous system may have an impact on locomotion, somatic growth, and cognitive and social development. Therefore, children and adolescents with neurodysfunctions require continuous, comprehensive rehabilitation, covering not only motor functions but also mental and social ones. We invite the submission of original research manuscripts as well as review articles and case studies that address somatic, motor, and cognitive development disorders in children and also those that address neurorehabilitation in children with neurodysfunctions.

We look forward to receiving your submissions for this Special Issue.

Dr. Agnieszka Guzik
Prof. Dr. Lidia Perenc
Prof. Dr. Mariusz Drużbicki
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Children is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • neurodysfunctions
  • neurorehabilitation
  • gait
  • anthropometry
  • somatic growth
  • cognitive and social development
  • health behaviors

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

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18 pages, 656 KiB  
Article
Effect of Dog-Assisted Therapy on Psychomotor Development of Children with Intellectual Disability
by Andżelina Wolan-Nieroda, Jadwiga Dudziak, Mariusz Drużbicki, Bogumiła Pniak and Agnieszka Guzik
Children 2021, 8(1), 13; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/children8010013 - 29 Dec 2020
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 5417
Abstract
Background: Although dog-assisted therapy (DAT) has been used for years, there is still a scarcity of research findings confirming efficacy of the method. The current study was designed to assess effects of DAT on psychomotor development of children with mild intellectual disabilities. Material [...] Read more.
Background: Although dog-assisted therapy (DAT) has been used for years, there is still a scarcity of research findings confirming efficacy of the method. The current study was designed to assess effects of DAT on psychomotor development of children with mild intellectual disabilities. Material and method: The study involved 60 children with mild intellectual disabilities, aged 10–13 years, divided into a group participating in a 10-month DAT program, and the control group. Four tests were applied, i.e., finger identification, postural imitation, kinaesthesia, and Bourdon-Wiersma Dot Cancellation Test. The examinations were carried out before the start and at the end of the DAT, and at a two-month follow-up. Results: The results obtained by the DAT group in all the four tests, at all the three timepoints, were not the same (p < 0.001). No statistically significant differences were found in the measurement at the end of the therapy between the DAT group and the controls. On the other hand, the DAT group achieved significantly better scores (p = 0.001 and p = 0.001), compared to the control, in the follow-up measurements two months after the end of the therapy in postural imitation and finger identification tests. Conclusions: Some of the scores achieved by the children in the DAT group improved in the measurements performed over time. Two months after the therapy ended, the children in the DAT group presented greater gains in motor planning (postural imitation test) and in the sense of touch, attention, and concentration (finger identification test), compared to the control group. Although the measurement performed immediately after the therapy did not show significant differences between the DAT group and the controls, the examination carried out at the two-month follow-up identified long-term gains in the treatment group in the domain of motor planning (postural imitation test). Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Disorders of Motor, Somatic and Cognitive Development in Children with Neurodysfunctions)
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13 pages, 3681 KiB  
Article
Weighted Blankets and Sleep Quality in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Single-Subject Design
by Bryan M. Gee, Kimberly Lloyd, Jesse Sutton and Tyler McOmber
Children 2021, 8(1), 10; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/children8010010 - 27 Dec 2020
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 12094
Abstract
The purpose of the study was to explore the efficacy of weighted blanket applications and sleep quality in children with autism spectrum disorder and behavioral manifestations of sensory processing deficits. Two 4-year-old participants diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder who also experienced sleep disturbances [...] Read more.
The purpose of the study was to explore the efficacy of weighted blanket applications and sleep quality in children with autism spectrum disorder and behavioral manifestations of sensory processing deficits. Two 4-year-old participants diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder who also experienced sleep disturbances took part in a single-subject design study. Objective sleep measures and caregiver surveys were tracked for a baseline period of eight days, followed by a 14-day weighted blanket intervention and a seven-day withdrawal phase. Caregiver reports and objective data were evaluated using visual analysis and the percentage of non-overlapping data methods. The results suggest minimal changes in sleep patterns as a result of the weighted blanket intervention. The findings based on using a weighted blanket intervention were enhanced morning mood after night use and a significantly decreased time to fall asleep for participants, though they were not strong enough to recommend for clinical use. Future directions include single-subject and cohort-designed studies exploring the efficacy of weighted blankets with increasing sleep quality among children with autism. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Disorders of Motor, Somatic and Cognitive Development in Children with Neurodysfunctions)
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9 pages, 221 KiB  
Article
The Utility of Gait Deviation Index (GDI) and Gait Variability Index (GVI) in Detecting Gait Changes in Spastic Hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy Children Using Ankle–Foot Orthoses (AFO)
by Majewska Joanna, Szczepanik Magdalena, Bazarnik-Mucha Katarzyna, Szymczyk Daniel and Lenart-Domka Ewa
Children 2020, 7(10), 149; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/children7100149 - 25 Sep 2020
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3161
Abstract
Background: Cerebral palsy (CP) children present complex and heterogeneous motor disorders that cause gait deviations. Clinical gait analysis (CGA) is used to identify, understand and support the management of gait deviations in CP. Children with CP often use ankle–foot orthosis (AFO) to facilitate [...] Read more.
Background: Cerebral palsy (CP) children present complex and heterogeneous motor disorders that cause gait deviations. Clinical gait analysis (CGA) is used to identify, understand and support the management of gait deviations in CP. Children with CP often use ankle–foot orthosis (AFO) to facilitate and optimize their walking ability. The aim of this study was to assess whether the gait deviation index (GDI) and the gait variability index (GVI) results can reflect the changes of spatio-temporal and kinematic gait parameters in spastic hemiplegic CP children wearing AFO. Method: The study group consisted of 37 CP children with hemiparesis. All had undergone a comprehensive, instrumented gait analysis while walking, both barefoot and with their AFO, during the same CGA session. Kinematic and spatio-temporal data were collected and GVI and GDI gait indexes were calculated. Results: Significant differences were found between the barefoot condition and the AFO conditions for selected spatio-temporal and kinematic gait parameters. Changes in GVI and GDI were also statistically significant. Conclusions: The use of AFO in hemiplegic CP children caused a statistically significant improvement in spatio-temporal and kinematic gait parameters. It was found that these changes were also reflected by GVI and GDI. These findings might suggest that gait indices, such as GDI and GVI, as clinical outcome measures, may reflect the effects of specific therapeutic interventions in CP children. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Disorders of Motor, Somatic and Cognitive Development in Children with Neurodysfunctions)
11 pages, 1330 KiB  
Article
Changes in Ankle Range of Motion, Gait Function and Standing Balance in Children with Bilateral Spastic Cerebral Palsy after Ankle Mobilization by Manual Therapy
by Pong Sub Youn, Kyun Hee Cho and Shin Jun Park
Children 2020, 7(9), 142; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/children7090142 - 18 Sep 2020
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 7358
Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of ankle joint mobilization in children with cerebral palsy (CP) to ankle range of motion (ROM), gait, and standing balance. We recruited 32 children (spastic diplegia) diagnosed with CP and categorized them in [...] Read more.
The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of ankle joint mobilization in children with cerebral palsy (CP) to ankle range of motion (ROM), gait, and standing balance. We recruited 32 children (spastic diplegia) diagnosed with CP and categorized them in two groups: the ankle joint mobilization (n = 16) group and sham joint mobilization (n = 16) group. Thus, following a six-week ankle joint mobilization, we examined measures such as passive ROM in ankle dorsiflexion in the sitting and supine position, center of pressure (COP) displacements (sway length, area) with eyes open (EO) and closed (EC), and a gait function test (timed up and go test (TUG) and 10-m walk test). The dorsiflexion ROM, TUG, and 10-m walk test significantly increased in the mobilization group compared to the control group. Ankle joint mobilization can be regarded as a promising method to increase dorsiflexion and improve gait in CP-suffering children. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Disorders of Motor, Somatic and Cognitive Development in Children with Neurodysfunctions)
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13 pages, 280 KiB  
Article
Effect of Functional Progressive Resistance Exercise on Lower Extremity Structure, Muscle Tone, Dynamic Balance and Functional Ability in Children with Spastic Cerebral Palsy
by Hye-Jin Cho and Byoung-Hee Lee
Children 2020, 7(8), 85; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/children7080085 - 31 Jul 2020
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 6099
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of functional progressive resistance exercise (FPRE) on muscle tone, dynamic balance and functional ability in children with spastic cerebral palsy. Twenty-five subjects were randomized into two groups: the FPRE group (n = [...] Read more.
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of functional progressive resistance exercise (FPRE) on muscle tone, dynamic balance and functional ability in children with spastic cerebral palsy. Twenty-five subjects were randomized into two groups: the FPRE group (n = 13) and the control group (n = 12). The experimental group participated in an FPRE program for 30 min per day, three times per week for six weeks. Knee extensor strength, rehabilitative ultrasound imaging (RUSI), muscle tone, dynamic balance, and functional ability was evaluated. The results showed statistically significant time × group interaction effects on the dominant side for knee extensor strength and cross-sectional area (CSA) in RUSI (p < 0.05). On both sides for thickness of the quadriceps (TQ) in RUSI, muscle tone and dynamic balance were statistically significant time × group interaction effects (p < 0.05). Additionally, knee extensor strength, CSA, TQ in RUS, muscle tone, dynamic balance and gross motor function measure (GMFM) in functional ability were significantly increased between pre- and post-intervention within the FPRE group (p < 0.05). The results suggest that FPRE is both feasible and beneficial for improving muscle tone, dynamic balance and functional ability in children with spastic cerebral palsy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Disorders of Motor, Somatic and Cognitive Development in Children with Neurodysfunctions)
10 pages, 5894 KiB  
Article
Effect of Action Observation Training on Spasticity, Gross Motor Function, and Balance in Children with Diplegia Cerebral Palsy
by Young-a Jeong and Byoung-Hee Lee
Children 2020, 7(6), 64; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/children7060064 - 18 Jun 2020
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 4249
Abstract
This study evaluated the effect of action observation training on spasticity, gross motor function, and balance in children with spastic diplegia cerebral palsy. Eighteen children with cerebral palsy participated in this study. The participants were randomized into the action observation training group ( [...] Read more.
This study evaluated the effect of action observation training on spasticity, gross motor function, and balance in children with spastic diplegia cerebral palsy. Eighteen children with cerebral palsy participated in this study. The participants were randomized into the action observation training group (n = 9) and a control group (n = 9). The action observation training group repeatedly practiced the action with their motor skills, while the control group practiced conventional physical therapy. Both groups received 30 min sessions, 3 days a week, for 6 weeks. To confirm the effects of intervention, the spasticity, gross motor function measurement (GMFM), and pediatric reaching test (PRT) were evaluated. The results showed that in the plantar flexor contracture test of both sides, the Modified Tardieu Scale (MTS) of the right side of knee joints, GMFM-B, C, and D were significantly increased between pre- and post-intervention within both groups (p < 0.05). PRT was significantly increased between pre- and post-intervention within the both groups (p < 0.05), and there was a significant difference between the two groups (p < 0.05). These results suggest that action observation training is both feasible and beneficial for improving spasticity, gross motor function, and balance in children with spastic diplegia cerebral palsy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Disorders of Motor, Somatic and Cognitive Development in Children with Neurodysfunctions)

Review

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15 pages, 589 KiB  
Review
Cognitive Assessment and Rehabilitation for Pediatric-Onset Multiple Sclerosis: A Scoping Review
by Wei-Sheng Lin, Shan-Ju Lin and Ting-Rong Hsu
Children 2020, 7(10), 183; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/children7100183 - 15 Oct 2020
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2677
Abstract
Cognitive impairment is increasingly recognized as an important clinical issue in pediatric multiple sclerosis (MS). However, variations regarding its assessment and remediation are noted in clinical arena. This scoping review aims to collate available evidence concerning cognitive assessment tool and cognitive rehabilitation for [...] Read more.
Cognitive impairment is increasingly recognized as an important clinical issue in pediatric multiple sclerosis (MS). However, variations regarding its assessment and remediation are noted in clinical arena. This scoping review aims to collate available evidence concerning cognitive assessment tool and cognitive rehabilitation for pediatric MS. We performed a systematic search of electronic databases (MEDLINE, PubMed, CINAHL Plus, and Web of Science) from inception to February 2020. Reference lists of included articles and trial registers were also searched. We included original studies published in English that addressed cognitive assessment tools or cognitive rehabilitation for pediatric-onset MS. Fourteen studies fulfilled our inclusion criteria. Among them, 11 studies evaluated the psychometric aspects of various cognitive assessment tools in the context of pediatric MS, and different neuro-cognitive domains were emphasized across studies. There were only three pilot studies reporting cognitive rehabilitation for pediatric-onset MS, all of which used home-based computerized programs targeting working memory and attention, respectively. Overall, more systematic research on cognitive assessment tools and rehabilitation for pediatric MS is needed to inform evidence-based practice. Computer-assisted cognitive assessment and rehabilitation appear feasible and deserve further studies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Disorders of Motor, Somatic and Cognitive Development in Children with Neurodysfunctions)
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