Background/Objectives: Children with cerebral palsy (CP) are reported to have lower rates of participation in community and home tasks than typically developing children. Little is known about the participation levels of children with CP and the environmental factors influencing their participation in the community within the Saudi context. This study aimed to determine the degree of participation in community and home tasks in children with CP in Saudi Arabia, as well as the level of support received, and the obstacles faced by children in this context. Methods: Parents of 5–16-year-old children with CP (n = 50) completed the Participation and Environment Measure for Children and Youth (PEM-CY), and their scores were compared with those of typically developing children of the same ages (n = 50). This study was conducted in a hospital setting. Analyses were performed using multivariate logistic regression analyses, controlling for potential confounders. Results: Participation in community activities as well as home activities was reported to be significantly lower in children with CP compared to their typically developing peers in multiple domains (p < 0.05). Additionally, physical, cognitive, and social demands were identified as factors that made community participation more difficult for children with CP (p = 0.002, p = 0.017, and p = 0.029 for physical, cognitive, and social demands, respectively). The availability of personal transportation, programs, services, and financial support were identified by parents as the factors that lowered community participation levels in children with CP (p > 0.005). Conclusions: Physical, cognitive, and social demands are the main obstacles to participation for children with CP. A lack of home supplies and financial support lowered the participation of children with CP. Recognizing environmental barriers as well as providing individualized practical solutions in collaboration with the families of children with CP can assist in developing meaningful participation in community and home activities for children with CP.

This cross-sectional study explored the behaviour, knowledge, skills and resources, opinion, and perceived barriers of paediatric physiotherapists practising in Saudi Arabia regarding evidence-based practice (EBP). Sixty-eight paediatric physiotherapists from Saudi Arabia participated. Data were collected by electronic questionnaire and the Likert scale was used to score knowledge, skills and resources, opinion, and barriers to EBP implementation. Approximately 78% of the participants were motivated to use EBP in their daily practise and 82.3% have reported the use of best scientific evidence in their clinical practise. Participants with higher database usage over the last 6 months showed significant association with EBP knowledge scores (t = 2.46, p = 0.01), skills and resources scores (t = 3.81, p < 0.001), and opinion scores (t = 2.43, p = 0.01). Furthermore, a higher level of education in participants was significantly associated with EBP knowledge scores (t = 2.41, p = 0.01). Most paediatric physiotherapists believed that EBP is essential in their clinical practise as it improves patient care and quality of health services. Difficulty in obtaining full-text papers and lack of time were identified as major barriers to implementing EBP followed by the lack of management support, motivation in research, and EBP training.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in many restrictions worldwide, including lockdowns and school closures. This may have prevented children from meeting the recommended physical activity (PA) levels and screen time. The aim of this study was to examine the impact of the pandemic on school-age children’s PA and screen time in Saudi Arabia. Methods: A cross-sectional study where caregivers of children aged 6–9 years living in Saudi Arabia were recruited through convenience sampling to fill out an online survey between July and August 2020. The survey covered demographic information, PAs, and screen time across 3 periods: pre-COVID-19 pandemic, during the COVID-19 lockdown, and the last 7 days preceding the survey during the pandemic where social distancing applied, but no lockdown. Results: A total of 339 caregivers completed the online survey about their children. The number of active children slightly increased during the lockdown (9.7%) than before COVID-19 and the last days (5.8%); however, the average reported days of PA during the pandemic were fewer than before. The findings indicated that all 3 types of screen time (watch time, screenplay, and device time) were longer during the pandemic (mean [SD]: 9.5 [5.5]) than before the COVID-19 (mean [SD]: 5.8 [5.1]). Conclusion: While the proportion of active children had increased during the lockdown, the COVID-19 pandemic, the COVID-19 pandemic negatively impacted PA days and screen time in school-age children. School-age children in Saudi Arabia were already far from meeting global guidelines even before the pandemic, highlighting this population’s need for healthy lifestyle promotion.

Introduction: During the COVID-19 pandemic, many countries implemented restrictions, social distancing measures, and lockdowns to limit the spread of the disease. These lockdowns have affected children’s screen time (ST), pain, and physical activity (PA) levels. The present study aimed to explore the relationships between ST, pain, age, and PA before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: The caregivers of 329 children (median age = 8 years) filled out an online self-reported survey about the children’s PA, ST, and pain before, during, and after the COVID-19 curfew. Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient was used to explore the associations between these variables. Results: After the curfew, pain that existed before the pandemic had a weak negative relationship with PA intensity (−0.11, p = 0.04) and a weak positive relationship with ST (r = +0.12, p = 0.04). There was a strong positive relationship between ST in all time periods (p > 0.01). PA and ST had a weak negative relationship (p > 0.05) during the curfew and after the curfew but not before the COVID-19 pandemic. Age had a weak positive correlation with ST in all time periods (p > 0.01). In addition, ST was affected by the curfew. Conclusion: The study findings indicated that young children had longer ST during the curfew and after the curfew compared with before the curfew. Increasing PA could lessen children’s ST, which could, in turn, increase the probability that their general pain would decrease.

Aim: In order to understand the global variations in the growth trajectories of cerebral palsy patients, this study aimed to compare the growth patterns of cerebral palsy patients in Saudi Arabi with United States and United Kingdom counterparts. Method: Anthropometric data from 107 participants with cerebral palsy in Saudi Arabia were collected, including age, gender, cerebral palsy type, Gross Motor Function Classification System level, birth weight, weight at assessment, height at assessment, body mass index, and head circumference at assessment. Results: This study found discrepancies between the growth patterns of Saudi Arabian children with cerebral palsy and United Kingdom and the United States growth charts, particularly among those with severe cerebral palsy. Significant differences were observed in weight, height, and body mass index z-scores when comparing Saudi Arabian data with the United kingdom and United States reference data. Interpretation: These findings emphasize the importance of validating growth charts across different populations to ensure accurate monitoring and clinical management of children with cerebral palsy. Additionally, this study highlights the need for region-specific growth references to better address the diverse needs of individuals with cerebral palsy worldwide.

Introduction: During the COVID-19 pandemic, many countries implemented restrictions, social distancing measures, and lockdowns to limit the spread of the disease. The lockdowns have affected children’s screen time (ST), pain, and physical activity (PA) levels. The present study aimed to explore the relationships between several personal factors during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: The caregivers of 329 children (median age=8 years) filled out an online self-reported survey about the children’s PA, ST, and pain before, during, and after the COVID-19 curfew. Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient was used to explore the associations between these variables. Results: After the curfew, pain that existed before the pandemic had a weak negative relationship with PA intensity (-0.11, p=0.04) and a weak positive relationship with ST (r=+0.12, p=0.04). There was a strong positive relationship between ST in all time periods (p>0.01). PA and ST had a weak negative relationship (p>0.05) during the curfew and after the curfew but not before the COVID-19 pandemic. Age had a weak positive correlation with ST in all time periods (p>0.01). In addition, ST was affected by the curfew. Conclusion: The study findings indicated that young children had longer ST during the curfew and after the curfew compared with before the curfew. Increasing PA could lessen children’s ST, which could, in turn, increase the probability that their general pain would decrease.