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Orthopedic Examination of the Pediatric Patient

Presented by David Piskulic

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Orthopedic Examination of the Pediatric Patient, presented Dr. David Piskulic, provides an overview of pediatric growth and development. Dr. Piskulic highlights orthopedic development, reflex integration, gross motor control and development of movement. Participants will learn common observational and assessment measures for analysis of pediatric growth and development, as well as how to perform common assessment measures for pediatric patients. Dr. Piskulic demonstrates how to recognize development time period for learned skills, such as crawling to walking, jumping, skipping, hopping, and running.

Meet your instructor

David Piskulic

David Piskulic, PT, DPT, SCS, ATC, is a Pediatric Physical Therapist for St. Louis Children’s Hospital in St. Louis, MO. He received his BS in Exercise Science and Athletic Training at Truman State University in Kirksville, MO and his Doctorate in Physical Therapy at Washington University in St. Louis, MO. He is an NATA…

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Chapters & learning objectives

Childhood Growth

1. Childhood Growth

In the first chapter of this course, Dr. Piskulic discusses skeletal, musculo-tendinous, and ligamentous development. Participants will review the stages of growth, early stages of Osteogenesis, and ossification sites of growth plates.

Clinical Evaluation of the Pediatric Patient

2. Clinical Evaluation of the Pediatric Patient

Dr. Piskulic begins this chapter by examining postural assessments, including posture alignment through the growth progression with a focus on foot and knee alignment changes. He then demonstrates range of motion testing and joint mobility vs. laxity.

Clinical Assessment: Strength, Pain, and Special Tests

3. Clinical Assessment: Strength, Pain, and Special Tests

This chapter looks at strength assessment and pain in the pediatric patient. Dr. Piskulic begins the chapter with a discussion of musculo-tendinous growth. He demonstrates strength assessments, assessments of pain, and special tests.

Motor Control and Reflex Development

4. Motor Control and Reflex Development

Chapter 4 reviews the sequence of learned movement, including gross to fine motor development and learned movement from head to toe (neck control to walking). Dr. Piskulic discusses reflex development, common pediatric reflexes, and the time of onset and integration of reflexes. Gross motor development is also reviewed, including the occurrence and timeline of gross motor skills.

Radiology and Imaging

5. Radiology and Imaging

Radiology and imaging are used not only for analysis of injury, but also for tracking progression of growth and skeletal development. Dr. Piskulic reviews these types of imaging for measurements of growth, as well as the stages of skeletal growth.

Pediatric Orthopedic Injuries

6. Pediatric Orthopedic Injuries

In the final chapter of this course, Dr. Piskulic presents rates of injury, risk factors in sports, and injury prevention strategies.