Motor Skill and Mobility Recovery Outcomes of Children and Youth with Traumatic Brain Injury

Abstract

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major cause of disability in children. Along with other neurological clinical sequelae, children often exhibit motor skill impairment and limitations in functional mobility following TBI. The purpose of this annotated bibliography is to: (1) familiarize therapists with the literature available regarding motor skill and mobility recovery outcomes for children and adolescents with TBI; (2) assist therapists in the selection of motor skill and mobility outcome assessments for use in clinical practice; and (3) provide therapists with comparisons of outcomes for external benchmarking. A number of reports document motor and mobility recovery outcomes as well as recovery in other domains. Studies vary, however, in design, sample size, number and type of outcome assessments used, time since injury at assessment(s), and the consideration of correlating factors such as age at time of injury and injury severity. Further research is needed to describe clinical, satisfaction and resource utilization outcomes, determine outcome predictors, and provide evidence for therapeutic intervention effectiveness.

Key Words:

• Brain injuries
• motor skills
• outcome assessment

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Helene M. Dumas

Michael Lepp, PT, is in private practice, Associate Instructor of the Upledger Institute, and Clinical Instructor, Case Western Reserve University School of Dentistry, Cleveland, OH.

Marie McKenzie, MS, OTR, is in private practice. She was Coordinator of Occupational Therapy at Scottish Rite Hospital at the time of this study.

Heather Miller, MS, OTR/L, is currently employed by Madison County Educational Service Center, providing therapy services to the county's pre-schools. This research was completed in partial fulfillment of the requirements of an MS degree at Ohio State University.

Linda Viscardis, BA, is Team Leader and Community Development Worker, Peterborough Family Enrichment Centre. She is Co-Founder of P.R.O.S.P.E.C.T.S., a support and advocacy group for families who have children with special needs.

Debra Stewart, BSc, OT(C), is Occupational Therapist, Erinoak, Serving Young People with Physical Disabilities, Mississauga, ON, and Clinical Lecturer, School of Rehabilitation Science, McMaster University.

Janette McDougall, MA, was Project Coordinator

Kip Husted, BEd, was a parent representative on the study team.

Aviva Yochman, MA, OTR, was a student in the School of Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel at the time of this study.

Imelda Burgman, MA OTR/L BCP, completed her MA in Movement Sciences at Teachers College, Columbia University, and was an Occupational Therapist at The Shield Institute, Bronx, NY. She is currently Lecturer, Habilitation, School of Community Health, Faculty of Health Studies, Charles Sturt University, Albury, N.S.W., Australia.

Barbara J. Steva, OTWL, BCP, is Occupational Therapist, University of New England Community Occupational Therapy Clinic, Saco, ME. She was Director of Occupational Therapy and Therapeutic Recreation, Franciscan Children's Hospital and Rehabilitation Center, Boston, MA, when this work was completed.