Tracy Jirikowic PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA, from the University of Washington, Seattle describes her team’s success with the virtual reality-based Sensorimotor Training to Affect Balance Engagement and Learning (STABEL) system for helping children who have neurodevelopmental defects caused by fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. 

For children with bilateral cerebral palsy visual cues are very important to help them control movement and gait—even though they may have impaired vision according to Asa Bartonek PhD, fron Karolinska University Hospital in Stockholm, Sweden, who discusses her group’s study of sensor problems as compared motor problems in limiting movements among these patients.

Age affects the results of the Timed Up and Go test when used in pre-school children according to Evi Verbecque PT, from the University of Antwerp, Belgium, whose group reports a new study with a modified the test adding a toy to make it fun for three, four and five-year olds.

Elizabeth Ardolino PT PhD, from the University of St Augustine in Austin, Texas, talks about a new scale she and her colleagues have developed to assess recovery among children who have spinal cord injury based on an existing adult scale with modifications to adapt for the big differences between children and adults.

Active video games can help as a part of an overall strategy to reduce pediatric obesity according to findings of a report from David Thivel PhD, from Clermont Auvergne University in Aubière, France. He explains, however, that overall energy balance holds the key and that such video games should only be part of a strategy including other physical activities and dietary planning.

It may be a given—all over America at least—that having the services of a physical therapist is a great benefit to any school, but until now the benefit had not been quantified or evaluated in terms of hard data.  This has now changed with a report from a wide-ranging survey in 28 states.  Susan Effgen PT, PhD, FAPTA, from the University of Kentucky in Lexington talks about her findings.