{"title":"Effect of Treadmill Gait Training Combined With Balance Exercises on Functional Mobility and Balance in Children With Cerebral Palsy: A Randomized Controlled Trial.","authors":"Theofani Bania, Maria Sxiza","doi":"10.1123/pes.2025-0018","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1123/pes.2025-0018","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>To investigate the effects of a gait training program on functional mobility and balance in children with cerebral palsy.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Twenty-two children 6-12 years old with spastic cerebral palsy (Gross Motor Function Classification System levels I-III) participated. They were randomly assigned to a gait training program or a control group. Both groups received neurodevelopmental treatment over a 12-week period. In addition, the intervention group received treadmill training combined with balance exercises. Walking speed, Gross Motor Function Measure dimension D and E, Pediatric Balance Scale, 1-minute walk test, and ankle range of motion were measured at baseline and at 12 weeks by a blind assessor. Data were analyzed with 2-way analysis of variance with 1 repeated factor (time) and 1 independent factor (group).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The intervention group improved walking speed (10-m walk) by a mean of 7.4 units (95% CI, 1.6-16.4) and the Gross Motor Function Measure-E score by a mean of 16.8 units (95% CI, 3.9-29.7) compared with the control group. No other significant between-group differences were observed. Within-group statistically significant differences were observed primarily for the gait training group. No serious adverse events were reported.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>A gait training program appeared to be beneficial for mobility-related outcomes in young children with cerebral palsy. Training focused on gait, and this was increased with less, if any, change in other outcomes, such as balance or range of motion.</p>","PeriodicalId":49712,"journal":{"name":"Pediatric Exercise Science","volume":" ","pages":"1-6"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145139281","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Francisco Javier García-Angulo, Ricardo Birrento-Aguiar, José María Giménez-Egido, Enrique Ortega-Toro
{"title":"Adapting U-13 Basketball Competition Based on Maturity Stage to Create Healthy Practice Environments.","authors":"Francisco Javier García-Angulo, Ricardo Birrento-Aguiar, José María Giménez-Egido, Enrique Ortega-Toro","doi":"10.1123/pes.2025-0026","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1123/pes.2025-0026","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>The aim of the present study is to analyze the impact of rule modifications in competition on heart rate and heart rate variability in U-13 basketball players, considering maturity stage as a moderating variable.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>Forty basketball players with an average age of 12.91 (0.57) years participated in the study. The study was approved by the ethics committee of the University of Murcia (2828/2020). A quasi-experimental A-B study was designed, where A was a tournament with the FEB regulation and B a tournament with the modified regulation. The dependent variables analyzed were the time players spent in different heart rate zones and heart rate variability. Maturity stage was considered a moderating factor in the intervention effect.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The results show significant differences in time in zone 4, reduced time in zone 5, maximum heart rate, and square root of the mean value of the sum of the squared differences. Maturity stage conditioned the intervention effect for square root of the mean value of the sum of the squared differences when players had a percentage of predicted adult height higher than 89.92%.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>From a cardio protective perspective, it has been found that U-13 players spend more time in zones considered cardio protective during the modified tournament. In addition, the modification reduces the differences in terms of fatigue between early and late developing players.</p>","PeriodicalId":49712,"journal":{"name":"Pediatric Exercise Science","volume":" ","pages":"1-8"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145042093","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Su-Ané Zwiegelaar, Kasha E Dickie, Deepthi R Abraham, Karen E Welman
{"title":"Psychometric Considerations and Age Appropriateness of Outcome Measures Implemented in Exercise Randomized Controlled Trials Within the Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis Cohort: A Systematic Review.","authors":"Su-Ané Zwiegelaar, Kasha E Dickie, Deepthi R Abraham, Karen E Welman","doi":"10.1123/pes.2024-0122","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1123/pes.2024-0122","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Juvenile idiopathic arthritis is an autoimmune condition of multifactorial etiology resulting in chronic inflammatory joint disease, which may be associated with systemic manifestations. Therapeutic exercise is essential to counteract physical impairments, which requires the implementation of outcome measures (OMs) in research and practice as they provide meaningful results for research efficacy, exercise program evaluation and quality, medication tolerance, and patient improvement.</p><p><strong>Purpose: </strong>To assess the types of OMs implemented in exercise randomized controlled trials related to the juvenile idiopathic arthritis cohort and the psychometric properties and age appropriateness of the implemented OMs.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The review was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42022336345) on May 30, 2022, followed by a systematic search across PubMed, EBSCOhost, Web of Science, and Ovid. Studies included were appraised using the Joanna Briggs Critical Appraisal Tool for randomized controlled trials. All data collection occurred according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 51 outcome measures were implemented across the 20 randomized controlled trials: 2 clinician-reported OMs (4%), 19 patient or parent-reported OMs (37%), and 30 physical performance OMs (59%). The vast majority of included OMs increase the difficulty of comparison across studies and indicate a lack of consideration for validity, reliability, and age appropriateness.</p>","PeriodicalId":49712,"journal":{"name":"Pediatric Exercise Science","volume":" ","pages":"1-8"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145034550","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Xiaoyu Zhang, Freddy Maso, Brigitte Ekpe-Lordonnois, Tom Poncelet, Gael Ennequin, Anthony J Blazevich, Sébastien Ratel
{"title":"Can Training Background Offset the Disadvantage Associated With Relative Age Effect on Perceptual-Cognitive Skills From Childhood Into Adolescence?","authors":"Xiaoyu Zhang, Freddy Maso, Brigitte Ekpe-Lordonnois, Tom Poncelet, Gael Ennequin, Anthony J Blazevich, Sébastien Ratel","doi":"10.1123/pes.2025-0004","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1123/pes.2025-0004","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>The aim of this study was to investigate the extent to which relative age effect (RAE) impacts the development of perceptual-cognitive skills and how training background may potentially offset RAE from childhood into adolescence.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>One hundred sixty-five 10- to 16-year-old male participants were divided into 8 groups based on their birth quartiles (BQ1 [January-March], BQ2 [April-June], BQ3 [July-September], and BQ4 [October-December]) and training background (moderately trained: 1-2 sessions/wk and well-trained: 4-5 sessions/wk). Their perceptual-cognitive skills were evaluated using a 3D multiple-object tracking task (ie, the NeuroTracker [NT]) with (3D) and without (2D) stereopsis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In moderately trained children, NT scores progressively decreased from BQ1 to BQ4, with a significant difference between the first 3 birth quartiles and BQ4 (P < .01), independent of stereopsis. In well-trained children, however, no significant differences were detected in NT scores between quartiles, and well-trained children in BQ4 exhibited NT scores comparable to moderately trained children in the first 3 quartiles.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>RAE showed a significant disadvantage on the perceptual-cognitive scores in moderately trained children born in BQ4. However, well-trained children born in BQ4 performed similarly to other well-trained children and to moderately trained children born in the first 3 birth quartiles, meaning that training background may offset the disadvantage associated with RAE from childhood into adolescence.</p>","PeriodicalId":49712,"journal":{"name":"Pediatric Exercise Science","volume":" ","pages":"1-7"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-08-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144849480","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Molly Wong Vega, Ayse Akcan-Arikan, Kristofer Jennings, Marisa Juarez Calderon, Victoria Warren, Craig A Johnston, Melissa M Markofski
{"title":"Documented Physical Activity Discussions in Children With Chronic Kidney Disease-An Analysis of Patient- and Clinician-Level Variables.","authors":"Molly Wong Vega, Ayse Akcan-Arikan, Kristofer Jennings, Marisa Juarez Calderon, Victoria Warren, Craig A Johnston, Melissa M Markofski","doi":"10.1123/pes.2023-0206","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1123/pes.2023-0206","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>We investigated the prevalence of documented physical activity (PA) participation and recommendations among pediatric nephrologists and identified disease-related variables that predicted which patients received PA recommendations.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>Patient charts were reviewed for children 3-18 years old, and data were extracted for those with international classification of disease 10 codes N18 (chronic kidney disease) or Z94.0 (kidney transplant). Demographic data, documented PA participation and recommendations, and disease variables were abstracted.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of 404 patients (64% male; 12.4 [4.0]) with estimated glomerular filtration rate of 67.8 (30.9) mL/min/1.73 m2; 239 (59.2%) had documented PA participation, and 119 (29.6%) had a documented PA recommendation in their chart. PA recommendations were more likely in older patients (odds ratio [OR]: 1.08; 95% CI, 1.03-1.13), those with higher body mass index z score (OR: 1.45; 95% CI, 0.96-1.51), higher height z score (OR: 1.55; 95% CI, 1.31-1.82), higher estimated glomerular filtration rate (OR: 1.01; 95% CI, 1.01-1.02), sport participation (OR: 2.47; 95% CI, 1.46-4.19), and less likely for patients with higher motor score (OR: 0.6; 95% CI, 0.41-0.87; all P < .01). Adjusted analysis maintained significant associations except sports participation and motor score.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>A low proportion of children with chronic kidney disease, who are at risk of physical inactivity, received PA recommendations to increase PA. Recommendations were more likely in older, overweight, taller, better kidney function, and sport participants. Effect sizes were small or moderate; further study is needed.</p>","PeriodicalId":49712,"journal":{"name":"Pediatric Exercise Science","volume":" ","pages":"1-8"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-07-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144718978","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sharon E Taverno Ross, Marsha Dowda, Myriam E Torres, Alexander C McLain, Russell R Pate
{"title":"Race/Ethnicity and Change in Physical Activity From Infancy to Preschool Age.","authors":"Sharon E Taverno Ross, Marsha Dowda, Myriam E Torres, Alexander C McLain, Russell R Pate","doi":"10.1123/pes.2024-0147","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1123/pes.2024-0147","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>To examine the associations of race/ethnicity with the developmental pattern for physical activity (PA) as children transition from infancy to preschool age, and to examine the influence of race/ethnicity on the associations between parent-reported contextual factors and children's PA.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>Participants included 125 mother/child dyads (n = 38 Black, n = 25 Latino, n = 62 White) completing assessments at 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, and 36 months of age. Child PA was measured with ActiGraph GT3X accelerometers and mothers completed a survey. Adjusted growth curve models examined the associations of race/ethnicity with the developmental patterns for PA and explored whether the association between change in the contextual variables and PA varied by race/ethnicity.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Overall, White (P < .001) and Latino (P < .05) children engaged in significantly more PA compared with Black children. Boys accumulated more PA per hour than their female counterparts (P < .001). Race/ethnicity significantly influenced the associations between the PA patterns and television viewing/screen media use, PA equipment in the home, and mothers' report of stressful life events (P < .05).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study presents an initial attempt to examine these relationships; more longitudinal research with larger samples are needed. Such knowledge is critical to inform PA interventions to promote PA in children of diverse racial/ethnic backgrounds.</p>","PeriodicalId":49712,"journal":{"name":"Pediatric Exercise Science","volume":" ","pages":"1-8"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-07-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144668852","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sarah T Ryan, Melanie Randle, Kar Hau Chong, Rebecca M Stanley, Gade Waqa, Mohammed Khalif, Anthony D Okely
{"title":"Prevalence, Sociodemographic, and Attitudinal Factors of Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior Among Children and Adolescents in Fiji.","authors":"Sarah T Ryan, Melanie Randle, Kar Hau Chong, Rebecca M Stanley, Gade Waqa, Mohammed Khalif, Anthony D Okely","doi":"10.1123/pes.2024-0137","DOIUrl":"10.1123/pes.2024-0137","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>This study examines the proportion of children and adolescents in Fiji meeting the Asia-Pacific physical activity (PA) and screen time (ST) recommendations, and to explore associated factors.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>A cross-sectional sample of caregivers (n = 1015) and their children aged 5-17 years completed an online survey based on Ajzen's conceptualization of attitudes within the Theory of Planned Behavior. Data included meeting PA and ST behaviors recommendations, sociodemographic factors, knowledge of recommendations, and attitudes toward meeting PA and ST recommendations. Generalized linear mixed models were used to identify factors associated with meeting recommendations.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>53% of children met both PA and ST recommendations, 87% met PA recommendations, and 62% met ST recommendations. Girls (odds ratio [OR] = 0.568; 95% CI, 0.360-0.896) had lower odds of meeting PA recommendations compared with boys. Children with less positive attitudes toward PA were less likely to meet PA recommendations (OR = 0.520; 95% CI, 0.312-0.868) compared with those with the most positive attitude. Children who live in rural (OR = 1.900; 95% CI, 1.233-2.929) and remote/very remote (OR = 1.681; 95% CI, 1.128-2.505) had higher odds of meeting ST recommendations compared to urban children. Children who speak English (OR = 0.567; 95% CI, 0.399-0.806) and Fijian-Hindi speakers (OR = 0.644; 95% CI, 0.469-0.883) had lower odds of meeting ST recommendations versus iTaukei/Fijian speakers.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>There is a need for targeted interventions promoting PA among girls and addressing ST across demographic groups.</p>","PeriodicalId":49712,"journal":{"name":"Pediatric Exercise Science","volume":" ","pages":"1-15"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-06-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144334285","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Comparison of the Effectiveness of Different Trunk-Focused Exercise Approaches for Children With Unilateral Cerebral Palsy: A Randomized Controlled Trial.","authors":"Derya Azim, Burcu Ersoz Huseyinsinoglu, Ipek Yeldan","doi":"10.1123/pes.2024-0126","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1123/pes.2024-0126","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>This study compared the effects of Neuro-Developmental Treatment-based trunk training, video game-based trunk training (VG-TT), and VG-TT with an orthotic garment in children with unilateral cerebral palsy.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Forty-two children with unilateral cerebral palsy received usual physiotherapy (2 d/wk) for 8 weeks (control period). They were then randomized to 8 weeks of Neuro-Developmental Treatment-based trunk training, VG-TT, or VG-TT with an orthotic garment (2 d/wk) alongside usual physiotherapy (intervention period). Primary outcomes were the Trunk Control Measurement Scale and Becure Balance Assessment System. Secondary outcomes included the Pediatric Berg Balance Scale and Gillette Functional Assessment Questionnaire.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>No significant improvements in trunk control were observed during the control period (P > .05), and all groups showed significant gains during the intervention period (P < .05). Functional and sitting balance improved in all groups throughout both periods (P < .05). However, no significant differences were found between intervention groups in trunk control, sitting balance, balance, or walking function (P > .05).</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>Trunk-specific training enhances trunk control and functional balance in children with unilateral cerebral palsy. As no approach proved superior, interventions can be tailored based on individual needs and clinical context.</p>","PeriodicalId":49712,"journal":{"name":"Pediatric Exercise Science","volume":" ","pages":"1-9"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-04-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144023367","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Gabriel Pereira Maciel, Bruno Nunes de Oliveira, Marcus Vinicius Veber Lopes, Bruno Gonçalves Galdino da Costa, Gabrielli Thais de Mello, Jean-Philippe Chaput, Kelly Samara Silva
{"title":"Changes in Leisure-Time Physical Activity and Active Commuting to School From Before to After the COVID-19 Pandemic Among Adolescents in Brazil: Repeated Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Analyses.","authors":"Gabriel Pereira Maciel, Bruno Nunes de Oliveira, Marcus Vinicius Veber Lopes, Bruno Gonçalves Galdino da Costa, Gabrielli Thais de Mello, Jean-Philippe Chaput, Kelly Samara Silva","doi":"10.1123/pes.2024-0115","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1123/pes.2024-0115","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>Compare leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) and active commuting to school among Brazilian adolescents between the periods before COVID-19 and after the reopening of schools.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This is a repeated cross-sectional study with a nested cohort targeting high school students from Southern Brazil. LTPA and active commuting to school were the self-reported outcomes. Zero-inflated Gamma and Logistic Mixed models were applied to compare, respectively, LTPA and active commuting between survey years.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Cross-sectional analyses showed that the odds of engaging in any type of LTPA were similar between waves. However, active participants spent significantly more time in total LTPA (9.5 min/d), team sports (4.9 min/d), and fitness activities (7.7 min/d) in 2022 (n = 954; 52.0% female; 16.5 [1.2] y) than in 2019 (n = 824, 51.2% female; 16.4 [1.1] y). Prospective analyses of 286 adolescents (54.5% female) showed a reduction in the probabilities of engaging in total LTPA (-17%), team sports (-36%), and individual sports (-10%) from 2019 to 2022. No changes were found for active commuting.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Cross-sectional and prospective differences were found for leisure but not for commuting-related physical activity between pre- and postpandemic periods. Efforts to promote physical activity should remain a public health priority.</p>","PeriodicalId":49712,"journal":{"name":"Pediatric Exercise Science","volume":" ","pages":"1-8"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-04-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143812824","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}