Points out that the arthritic child needs a flexible approach by the occupational therapist to help him cope with a chronic illness characterized by remissions and exacerbations of pain and changing levels of physical function as he strives to master developmental tasks in school and social activities. (Author)

Describes a special curriculum devised to teach cooking to a physically disabled high school student, a program which also served as physical therapy. Key ingredients included individualization, kitchen accessibility, and peer tutoring. (SK)

Describes a motor rehabilitation workstation based on a microcomputer and equipped with a set of sensory input devices (touch plate, touch screen, electrodes to acquire electromyographic activity, and force-sensitive foot plates) that allows rehabilitation professionals to assess and treat patients in a multimedia environment. Discusses the…

This article, the second of a three-part series, outlines neuromuscular, musculoskeletal, and cardiopulmonary physical therapy approaches to movement dysfunction in children. The multiple roles of the pediatric physical therapist in teaching, consulting, managing, referring, and conducting clinical research are discussed. (Author/DB)

The spinal cord-injured street person is especially resistant to rehabilitation. His life style is characterized by the use of physical power and mobility to survive and gain respect. He loses this main form of control and attempts to manipulate the treatment environment to care for him while he avoids confronting his disability. (Author)

People with spinal cord injury have behavioral tendencies that place them at-risk of such injuries. This study investigated the relationship between personality characteristics as suggested by manner of onset of injury and long-term medical, vocational, and psychological adjustment. Imprudent subjects tended to be better adjusted at follow-up than…

This research report describes the reliability and validity of hand-held dynamometer measurements of knee extension force obtained from 13 patients referred for physical therapy. Results found that hand-held dynamometry can be used to obtain reliable measures of muscle strength; however, correlation between strength measures and function was not…

Learning to move and moving to learn are vital aspects of every child's growth and development. Physical therapists and educators have consistently advocated the importance of being involved in a range of movement activities and games. Movement can provide an avenue for learning and interaction with others and can be linked to language and…

The study investigated the effectiveness of an instructional program designed to promote independent walking in a mentally and physically handicapped (cerebral palsied) preschooler involving a collaborative effort between a behavior therapist and a physical therapist in an interdisciplinary setting, a public school. (Author/DB)

This paper describes an effective systems approach for conducting physical therapy inservice training. The approach requires that the problem area be selected by staff consensus, and consists of eight elements such as "prioritizing needs" and "constructing performance measures." The approach is applied to planning and administering therapeutic…

This study examined the effectiveness of activities associated with transdisciplinary teaming and integrated therapy on targeted motor responses of three elementary age students with multiple disabilities during the general education classroom routine. All three students immediately increased and maintained their target motor responses under the…