Pediatric Physical Therapy Flashcards

Hypotonia in an infant most commonly presents as:

Answer: Decreased muscle tone ('floppy infant') with poor posture and feeding difficulties

Hypotonia presents as low muscle tone, causing a floppy appearance, poor head control, difficulty feeding, and delayed motor milestones.

Idiopathic toe walking in children without neurological cause is typically managed first with:

Answer: Conservative treatment: stretching, serial casting, and AFOs

Conservative management including gastrocnemius stretching, serial casting, and ankle-foot orthoses (AFOs) is the first-line treatment for idiopathic toe walking.

The International Classification of Functioning (ICF) framework in pediatric PT emphasizes:

Answer: Participation, activity, and body structure/function in context

The ICF model addresses body functions/structures, activities, participation, and contextual factors, promoting a holistic child-and-family-centered approach.

Which type of cerebral palsy is characterized by fluctuating muscle tone with involuntary writhing movements?

Answer: Athetoid/dyskinetic CP

Dyskinetic (athetoid) CP involves damage to the basal ganglia, resulting in fluctuating tone, involuntary slow writhing (athetosis) or rapid jerky movements (chorea).

The family-centered care model in pediatric PT prioritizes:

Answer: Partnerships with families as essential decision-makers in the child's care

Family-centered care recognizes parents and caregivers as key partners, incorporating their priorities and strengths into therapy goals and delivery.

Constraint therapy in children with hemiplegic CP has demonstrated improvements in:

Answer: Unilateral upper extremity function and motor learning

Pediatric constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT) improves the quality and quantity of use of the affected upper extremity in hemiplegic CP.