Mary Gannotti
University of Hartford, Rehabilitation Science, Faculty Member
Research Interests: Occupational Therapy, Family Medicine, Adolescent, Medicine, Physical Therapy, and 15 moreHumans, Child, Needs Assessment, Female, Male, Infant, Clinical Sciences, Newborn Infant, Special Needs, Disabled children, Prevalence, Cross Sectional Studies, Surveys and Questionnaires, Child preschool, and Health Services Accessibility
Research Interests: Cerebral Palsy, Adolescent, Medicine, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Neuroplasticity, and 13 moreHumans, Child, Female, Male, Psychological Intervention, Infant, Time Factors, Pediatric Physical Therapy, Guidance and Counseling Intervention Programs, Nervous System Diseases, Child preschool, Dosing, and Paediatrics and reproductive medicine
The purpose of this study was to explore changes in body mass index (BMI), gait velocity, mean knee flexion in stance, and popliteal angle with age in ambulatory children with cerebral palsy. A cross-sectional sample of 188 ambulatory... more
The purpose of this study was to explore changes in body mass index (BMI), gait velocity, mean knee flexion in stance, and popliteal angle with age in ambulatory children with cerebral palsy. A cross-sectional sample of 188 ambulatory children with cerebral palsy Gross Motor Function Classification System II or III who had a motion analysis evaluation. Subjects had no previous surgical interventions and were between the ages of 4 and 21. Velocity was normalized to limb length, and BMI was converted to age-adjusted percentile scores (BMI-a). For GMFCS level II children, age and normalized velocity demonstrated a moderate and significant relationship (r = -0.4; P = 0.000). Age explained 20% of the variance in normalized velocity (P = 0.000). Weak but significant relationships were found between mean knee flexion in stance and normalized velocity (r = -0.3; P = 0.000) and popliteal angle and age (r = 0.3; P < 0.002). For GMFCS level III children, the following variables demonstrated a weak but significant association: normalized velocity and BMI-a (r = 0.3; P < 0.006), popliteal angle, and mean knee flexion in stance (r = 0.3; P < 0.022). Age was not associated with velocity, mean knee flexion in stance, BMI-a, or popliteal angle. For GMFCS level II children, as age increases, there is a slight decrease in normalized velocity, and with decreasing normalized velocity, there is slightly increased mean knee flexion in stance. For GMFCS level III children, age was not associated with slower velocities, increased mean knee flexion in stance, or increased popliteal angle. Increased BMI-a was not associated with slower gait velocities or increased mean knee flexion in stance. Increasing BMI-a was not associated with increasing age.
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ABSTRACT Valid and reliable outcome measures are critical for the provision and assessment of physical therapy services. This research provides a methodology for evaluating standardized outcome measures for children with disabilities from... more
ABSTRACT Valid and reliable outcome measures are critical for the provision and assessment of physical therapy services. This research provides a methodology for evaluating standardized outcome measures for children with disabilities from distinct groups of people. The Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory (PEDI), an effective measure of function and disability for children in the United States, is translated into Spanish and evaluated for use with children living in Puerto Rico. This research defines function and disability for children living in Puerto Rico and establishes the meanings of these constructs in Puerto Rico. In a series of interviews and observations, caregivers of children with and without disabilities, teachers, and rehabilitation professionals provide information regarding the definitions and meanings of disability and function. Content validity is determined by comparison of items on the PEDI with actual functional activities children perform on a daily basis, analysis of structured questionnaires, and expert content review. Construct validity is evaluated by correspondence of the meanings of function and disability of the PEDI and of people living in Puerto Rico. Additionally, the PEDI is administered to children with and without disabilities drawn from a population defined by age, gender, socioeconomic status, and geographic region. Factor analysis and reliability testing of the items on the PEDI further evaluate the construct validity of the PEDI. Logistic regression tests the ability of the PEDI to discriminate between children with disabilities from those without in Puerto Rico.
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Research Interests: Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science, Motion Analysis, Medicine, Collaborative Research, and 13 moreGait, Humans, Gait Analysis, Kinematics, Kinematic, Statistical Power, Motion, Clinical Sciences, Gait and Posture, Repeatability, Reproducibility of Results, Biomechanical Phenomena, and Multicenter Studies as Topic
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Research Interests: Mechanical Engineering, Aging, Cerebral Palsy, Adolescent, Medicine, and 15 moreGait, Humans, Gait Analysis, Clinical Sciences, Gait and Posture, Longitudinal Studies, Adult, Motor Function, Body Weight, Indexation, Long Term Effect, Lower Extremity, Knee Joint, Biomechanical Phenomena, and Hip Joint
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Objective The purpose of this scoping review was to analyze the published literature regarding the use of art in the context of rehabilitation for consideration in physical therapy. Methods The CINAHL, PsycArticles, APA PsycInfo, Art... more
Objective The purpose of this scoping review was to analyze the published literature regarding the use of art in the context of rehabilitation for consideration in physical therapy. Methods The CINAHL, PsycArticles, APA PsycInfo, Art Index, Music Index, Cochrane Reviews, and PubMed electronic databases were accessed. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were established and utilized to determine study eligibility. Study details were extracted from each article by researchers using a systematic format. Summation of journal type, participants, dosing and type of intervention, setting and interventionist, outcome domains, and study results were included. Results Out of 1452 studies, 76 were included for extraction. Of these studies, most had outcome measures aligned with the psychomotor and affective domains of learning (n = 66). Very few studies had outcome measures with psychomotor and cognitive domains (n = 2) or psychomotor, affective, and cognitive outcome measures (n = 8). Regarding ...
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Purpose. A systematic review evaluated exercise parameters and ages that produced the most improvement in bone among individuals with cerebral palsy (CP) ages 3 to 21 years. Methods. PubMed, Scopus, Ebscohost, and Web of Science... more
Purpose. A systematic review evaluated exercise parameters and ages that produced the most improvement in bone among individuals with cerebral palsy (CP) ages 3 to 21 years. Methods. PubMed, Scopus, Ebscohost, and Web of Science identified potential articles. Covidence was used to identify eligible citations and assess bias. The osteogenic index (OI) was used to evaluate intervention parameters. Results. The database search identified 312 citations. Twelve full-text articles were included. A 1-hour calisthenic exercise program performed 2 to 3 times a week for 8 months targeting each body region had the highest effect size and a substantial OI. Most of the interventions reviewed had low OIs. Activities of longer duration and greater intensity had greater OIs and prepubertal age-enhanced treatment effects. Conclusion. Bone interventions for individuals with CP have low OIs, and principles of mechanostat theory should be applied to exercise dosing.
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- Durable medical equipment (DME) policies require that the equipment be medically necessary; however, adaptive cycling equipment (bicycles and tricycles) are usually not deemed medically necessary.- Individuals with neurodevelopmental... more
- Durable medical equipment (DME) policies require that the equipment be medically necessary; however, adaptive cycling equipment (bicycles and tricycles) are usually not deemed medically necessary.- Individuals with neurodevelopmental disabilities (NDD) are at high risk for secondary conditions, both physical and mental, that can be mitigated by increasing physical activity.- Significant financial costs are associated with the management of secondary conditions.- Adaptive cycling can provide improved physical health of individuals with NDD potentially reducing costs of comorbidities.- Expanding DME policies to include adaptive cycling equipment for qualifying individuals with NDD can increase access to equipment.- Regulations to ensure eligibility, proper fitting, prescription, and training can optimize health and wellbeing.- Programs for recycling or repurposing of equipment are warranted to optimize resources.
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Factors associated with longer-term outcomes of multilevel orthopaedic surgery in ambulatory children with cerebral palsy using a multivariate approach were evaluated using a retrospective pretest-posttest design. The population included... more
Factors associated with longer-term outcomes of multilevel orthopaedic surgery in ambulatory children with cerebral palsy using a multivariate approach were evaluated using a retrospective pretest-posttest design. The population included 20 ambulatory children with spastic diplegia who had undergone multilevel orthopaedic surgery with a minimum of 4-year interval between a preoperative and a postoperative gait assessment. Multiple regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with postoperative velocity and mean knee flexion in stance. Independent variables included in the regression models were velocity, mean knee flexion in stance, age at preoperative evaluation, Gross Motor Function Classification System level, use of ankle-foot orthoses, leg length, age-adjusted body mass index, number of surgical procedures, and range of motion of hip and knee. Children who demonstrated faster postoperative gait velocity 4 years or more after surgery were younger at the time of initial evaluation, had undergone fewer surgical procedures, had faster preoperative gait velocity, used ankle-foot orthoses postoperatively, and had increased hip extension range of motion postoperatively (R = 0.55). Children who demonstrated greater knee flexion in stance 4 years or more after surgery had undergone more surgical procedures, greater postoperative popliteal angle, and less knee extension range of motion (R = 0.73). This study demonstrates the usefulness of a multivariate approach toward understanding and predicting outcomes. The results of this study will provide clinicians and researchers more information about those factors associated with maintained improvements in the longer term and may be useful for treatment planning.
Research Interests: Cerebral Palsy, Adolescent, Medicine, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Gait, and 15 moreHumans, Child, Female, Male, Regression Analysis, Pediatric, Outpatients, Adult, Pediatric Orthopaedics, Pediatric Orthopedics, Orthotic Devices, Orthopedic Procedures, Postoperative Period, Child preschool, and Paediatrics and reproductive medicine
Chair yoga is a specific form of yoga practiced while seated on a chair, or standing using a chair for support; this adaptation allows those with impaired standing ability to practice safely. The purpose of this scoping review was to... more
Chair yoga is a specific form of yoga practiced while seated on a chair, or standing using a chair for support; this adaptation allows those with impaired standing ability to practice safely. The purpose of this scoping review was to analyze the published literature regarding the use of chair/adapted yoga with older adults. Two researchers performed the review. Data sources: PubMed Central, CINAHL, Medline Full Text, Nursing and Allied Health, SPORT discus and TRIP were accessed. Study selection: Inclusion criteria included pre-test/post-test studies with a yoga intervention for older adults using a chair. Exclusion criteria were studies with seated exercise interventions not specific to yoga, mindfulness or breathing techniques with no physical activity, yoga with no use of a chair, not specific to older adults and reviews. The search strategy was performed by two reviewers. Data extraction: Covidence, a systematic review production tool, was utilized to aid article analysis. Data ...
Chair yoga is a specific form of yoga practiced while seated on a chair, or standing using a chair for support; this adaptation allows those with impaired standing ability to practice safely. The purpose of this scoping review was to... more
Chair yoga is a specific form of yoga practiced while seated on a chair, or standing using a chair for support; this adaptation allows those with impaired standing ability to practice safely. The purpose of this scoping review was to analyze the published literature regarding the use of chair/adapted yoga with older adults. Two researchers performed the review. Data sources: PubMed Central, CINAHL, Medline Full Text, Nursing and Allied Health, SPORT discus and TRIP were accessed. Study selection: Inclusion criteria included pre-test/post-test studies with a yoga intervention for older adults using a chair. Exclusion criteria were studies with seated exercise interventions not specific to yoga, mindfulness or breathing techniques with no physical activity, yoga with no use of a chair, not specific to older adults and reviews. The search strategy was performed by two reviewers. Data extraction: Covidence, a systematic review production tool, was utilized to aid article analysis. Data ...
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PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to measure the growth of the Cerebral Palsy (CP) Research Network towards becoming a Learning Health Network in order to guide future development. METHODS: Thirteen CP Research Network leaders... more
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to measure the growth of the Cerebral Palsy (CP) Research Network towards becoming a Learning Health Network in order to guide future development. METHODS: Thirteen CP Research Network leaders completed the Network Maturity Grid (NMG) which consists of six domains with eight to 10 components each. The six domains are Systems of Leadership, Governance and Management, Quality Improvement, Engagement and Community, Data and Analytics, and Research. Radar mapping was utilized to display mean scores on a 5-point ordinal scale (1 = not started to 5 = idealized state) across domains and for individual components within domains. Consensus was reached for top priorities for the next 3–5 years. RESULTS: Domain scores ranged from 2.4 in Quality Improvement to 3.2 in System of Leadership. The lowest scoring component was clinician clinical decision support and the highest was common purpose. The following priority areas of focus were agreed upon moving for...
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Background and Purpose. This article describes culturally defined meanings of childhood function and disability in Puerto Rico to provide a context for the interpretation of test scores from the Spanish translation of the Pediatric... more
Background and Purpose. This article describes culturally defined meanings of childhood function and disability in Puerto Rico to provide a context for the interpretation of test scores from the Spanish translation of the Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory (PEDI). Subjects and Methods. More than 600 Puerto Rican teachers, parents and caregivers of children with and without disabilities, and members of the general community participated in ethnographic interviews, which were designed to describe their beliefs, attitudes, and knowledge about childhood function and disability. Results. Qualitative and quantitative data analysis confirmed that differences exist between Puerto Ricans and the norms established in the United States for the performance of functional skills by children, and the analysis also described Puerto Rican beliefs and attitudes toward disability. Discussion and Conclusion. Puerto Rican values of interdependence, añoñar (pampering or nurturing behaviors), ...