Exploring participation after paediatric acquired brain injury

This study aimed to explore the levels of participation in a UK sample of children and young people (CYP) with an acquired brain injury (ABI) at home, school and in the community. The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility of undertaking research with this population with a cross-sectional study using the Child and Family Follow-Up Survey (CFFS). The CFFS was distributed to parents/carers of 134 CYP with ABI (CYP-ABI) who received neuro-rehabilitation from 2014 to 2016. Access and recruitment was problematic resulting in a low response rate (4%). Widespread restrictions in participation were reported by 4 out of the 5 respondents with community structured events/activities and educational activities being the most restricted. Factors impacting on participation were cognitive-based and movement skills, family stress and lack of support/encouragement in the community. Study results provide information pertaining to the feasibility of undertaking research with this population whilst also highlighting the restrictions to participation experienced by CYP-ABI more than two years after injury. Abstract This study aimed to explore the levels of participation in a UK sample of children and youn

Podcasting of Practical Summative Assessment Feedback: An Evaluation of Practice

Abstract Introduction: feedback is a current higher education and National Student Survey hot topic. Student ratings of experience are powerful tools in university rankings. Use of podcasts has increased in education with the majority of work considering written assignment feedback. Few investigations have addressed feedback podcast for summative practical assessments

Identifying Priorities for Physiotherapy Research in the UK: the James Lind Alliance Physiotherapy Priority Setting Partnership

Objectives To identify unanswered questions for physiotherapy research and help set and prioritise the top 10 generic research priorities for the UK physiotherapy profession; updating previous clinical condition- specific priorities to include patient and carer perspectives, and reflect changes in physiotherapy practice, service provision and new technologies. Design The James Lind Alliance (JLA) Priority Setting Partnership (PSP) methodology was adopted, utilising evidence review, survey and consensus methods. Participants Anyone with experience and/or an interest in UK physiotherapy: patients, carers, members of the public, physiotherapists, student physiotherapists, other healthcare professionals, researchers, educators, service providers, commissioners and policy makers. Results Five hundred and ten respondents (50% patients, carers or members of the public) identified 2152 questions (termed “uncertainties”). Sixty-five indicative questions were developed from the uncertainties using peer reviewed thematic analysis. These were ranked in a second national survey (1,020 responses (62% were complete)). The top 25 questions were reviewed in a final prioritisation workshop using an adapted nominal group technique. The top 10 research priorities focused on optimisation (top priority); access; effectiveness; patient and carer knowledge, experiences, needs and expectations; supporting patient engagement and self-management; diagnosis and prediction. Conclusions This study is currently the UK's most inclusive consultation exercise to identify patients‘and healthcare professionals‘priorities for physiotherapy research. The exercise deliberately sought to capture generic issues relevant to all specialisms within physiotherapy. The research priorities identified a range of gaps in existing evidence to inform physiotherapy policy and practice. The results will assist research commissioning bodies and inform funding decisions and strategy

The use of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation in physiotherapy practice

Aims The aim of this paper is to critically review the evidence base for the use of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) in physiotherapy practice. Given the evolving understanding of underlying physiological concepts and research developments in the more than 50 years since Herman Kabat originated the concept, there is a need to review the current evidence base. Method Empirical studies investigating the effectiveness of PNF for increasing range of movement and functional rehabilitation for clinical and non-clinical populations along with patterns and irradiation concepts were reviewed. Results Although it was difficult to draw definitive conclusions due to the lack of cognate studies and varying methodological quality of papers, a number of studies did demonstrate encouraging results for the use of PNF, particularly with regard to increasing range of movement. Conclusions Further research is needed to explore individual components of PNF therapeutic approaches and their wider application in key clinical populations such as stroke with standardized outcome measures appropriate to clinical practice. Secondly there is need for the development of new paradigms to fully consider the underlying physiological concepts explaining the effectiveness of PNF

The efficacy of botulinum toxin a lower limb injections in addition to physiotherapy approaches in children with cerebral palsy: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: To assess treatment effect of lower limb botulinum toxin type A (BTX-A) in combination with physiotherapy approaches on gross motor functions in children with cerebral palsy compared with only physiotherapy treatment. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this review was to analyze the efficacy botulinum toxin a lower limb injections in addition to physiotherapy approaches in children with cerebral palsy. METHODS: A literature search was conducted in the following databases: Cochrane, PEDro, PubMed, MEDLINE, AMED and EMBASE. The searches were limited to the period from July 2009 to July 2015. The intervention had to contain BTX-A into the lower limb plus physiotherapy approaches and be compared with only physiotherapy. The methodological quality and clinical relevance were independently assessed by the authors. RESULTS: The database search resulted in a total of 1521 studies, of which 4 (Level II of evidence) trials were included in this review. The population represented by were age between from 11 month to 15 years. Overall there were 153 children all diagnosed with CP (87 Male, 66 Female). CONCLUSIONS: The use of BTX-A injections in addition to physiotherapy approaches seems to have positive effect on spasticity and ROM. However, the question of whether the treatment of BTX-A plus physiotherapy has a greater improvement on functional capacity, such as gross motor function or gait parameter than only physiotherapy treatments, was inconclusive. Further investigation by rigorous studies is required