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• The CMTPedS-Br is culturally appropriate for the Brazilian population. • The CMTPedS-Br showed adequate reliability and face validity. • The CMTPedS-Br will allow Brazil to be part of multicentered studies on such a rare but debilitating condition. The Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease Pediatric Scale (CMTPedS) has been used to measure aspects of disability in children with all types of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT). To translate and cross-culturally adapt the CMTPedS into Brazilian–Portuguese and determine its reliability and validity. The translation and cross-cultural adaptation followed international guidelines recommendations. Twenty individuals with CMT were assessed. Two examiners assessed the participants for inter-rater reliability. Face validity was assessed by eight physical therapists that judged the relevance of each test item. The Bland-Altman analysis (bias) and standard error of measurement (SEM) complemented the analysis. Furthermore, intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC), weighted kappa (k), and internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha) was determined. The CMTPedS was successfully translated and cross-culturally adapted. Twenty children/youth were enrolled in the study. Of these, the majority (55%) were girls with a mean age of 13.9 (range: from 6 to 18) years. Regarding face validity, the CMTPedS-Br showed relevant items for assessing children and youth with CMT. The ICC for the total score showed excellent reliability (ICC 2.1 = 0.93, 95% CI = 0.84, 0.97). The most reliable items were grip, dorsiflexion and plantar flexion strength while the least reliable items were pinprick, vibration, and gait. The internal consistency was excellent (α = 0.96, 95% CI = 0.91, 0.99) and the agreement showed small variability (bias = 0.15, 95% CI= -4.28, 4.60). The CMTPedS-Br showed adequate reliability and face validity to measure disability in individuals with CMT. This tool will allow Brazil to be part of multicentered studies on such a rare but debilitating condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Boys develop more pronounced isometric muscular strength starting at 10 years of age and it peaks at 14 and 15 years. • The Handheld dynamometer has excellent inter-rater reliability and an intra-rater agreement for all muscle groups tested. • The development of muscle strength for the Brazilian population is similar to that observed in the northern hemisphere. Abstract Objective Isometric muscle strength measured by Handheld dynamometer indicates physical ability. There is no normative data for the Brazilian population. This study aims (a) to describe the development of isometric muscle strength in healthy children and adolescents 5–15 years of age; (b) to evaluate Handheld dynamometer inter and intra-rater reliability. Methods Isometric muscle strength was obtained for shoulder abduction, elbow and knee flexion and extension, dorsiflexion and plantar flexion in 55 boys and 55 girls, aged between 5 and 15 years. Inter-rater reliability was determined based on the evaluation of 2 raters, with a 20-min interval between them. Intra-rater reliability was based on 2 evaluations from the same rater, one week apart. Interclass correlation coefficient (ICC 2,1; 3,1), Bland Altman plots and linear regression models with mixed effects were used to quantify inter and intra-rater reliability, agreement and associations with physical activity level and maturational factors. Results A linear development of isometric muscular strength was observed for ages between 5 and 10. After age 10, boys showed a larger isometric muscular strength, when compared to girls. Both inter and intra-rater measurements of the Handheld dynamometer are reliable (ICC > 0.63). Conclusions This study shows increase in isometric muscle strength starting at 10 years of age for boys, when compared to girls and inter and intra-rater reliability for the assessment of isometric strength, using the Handheld dynamometer for the muscle groups tested on the dominant and non-dominant side, for children between 5 and 15 years of age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate knee pain prevalence, associated factors, and functional impairment among adolescents. Method: This was a cross-sectional study conducted between May and June 2014 with a random sample of 619 adolescents aged between 10 and 17 years. Knee pain prevalence was investigated using the Nordic Questionnaire for Osteomuscular Symptoms and a number of independent variables (demographic data, nutritional status, form of carrying backpacks, and pain during and after walking) obtained by self-report questionnaires. Physical impairment of the knee was assessed using the Brazilian version of the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score questionnaire. Poisson regression analysis was used to estimate the ratios of crude and adjusted knee pain association with the investigated factors. ANOVA and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to compare median functional impairment. Results: Knee pain prevalence over the last 7 days was 22.6%. Factors having significant association with the outcome were: being between 12 and 14 years old (PR: 1.67; 95% CI: 1.07-2.58; p<0.01), being between 15 and 17 years old (PR: 2.44; 95% CI: 1.51-3.94; p = 0.01), and not doing physical education at school (PR: 0.54; 95% CI: 0.35-0.82; p = 0.01). Total functional capacity among adolescents with pain was significantly lower among girls (68.7 points; PD ±15.1) when compared with boys (74.3 points; PD ± 12.7) (p = 0.02). The mean value of disabling pain was lower (55.1 points; PD± 12.3) among adolescents who were physically active in their leisure time compared to those who were insufficiently active (60.4 points; PD ± 12.4) (p = 0.02). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The participation of children and adolescents in sports is becoming increasingly common, and this increased involvement raises concerns about the occurrence of sports injuries. Objectives: To characterize the sports injuries and verify the associated factors with injuries in children and adolescents. Method: Retrospective, epidemiological study. One thousand three hundred and eleven children and adolescents up to 18 years of age enrolled in a sports initiation school in the city of Presidente Prudente, State of São Paulo, Brazil. A reported condition inquiry in interview form was used to obtain personal data and information on training and sports injuries in the last 12 months. Injury was considered any physical complaint resulting from training and/or competition that limited the participation of the individual for at least one day, regardless of the need for medical care. Results: The injury rate per 1000 hours of exposure was 1.20 among the children and 1.30 among the adolescents. Age, anthropometric data, and training characteristics only differed with regard to the presence or absence of injuries among the adolescents. The most commonly reported characteristics involving injuries in both the children and adolescents were the lower limbs, training, non-contact mechanism, mild injury, asymptomatic return to activities, and absence of recurrence. Conclusions: The injury rate per 1000 hours of exposure was similar among children and adolescents. Nevertheless, some peculiarities among adolescents were observed with greater values for weight, height, duration of training, and weekly hours of practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Treadmill gait training as a therapeutic resource in the rehabilitation of children with cerebral palsy has recently been the focus of many studies; however, little is still known regarding its effect on static and functional balance in children. Objective: The aim of the present study was to compare the effects of treadmill training and over ground gait training in children with cerebral palsy. Method: A randomized controlled trial with blinded evaluator was conducted with children with cerebral palsy between three and 12 years of age categorized in Levels I to III of the Gross Motor Function Classification System. Assessments were performed before and after the intervention and involved the Berg balance scale as well as the determination of oscillations from the center of pressure in the anteroposterior and mediolateral directions with eyes open and closed. The experimental group was submitted to treadmill training and the control group performed gait training over the ground. The intervention consisted of two 30-minute sessions per week for seven weeks. Results: Both groups exhibited better functional balance after the protocol. The experimental group had higher Berg balance scale scores and exhibited lesser mediolateral oscillation with eyes open in comparison to the control group. Conclusions: Treadmill training had a greater effect on functional balance and mediolateral oscillation in comparison to over ground gait training in children with cerebral palsy. Trial registration: RBR-5v3kg9 (Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]