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Advances in Early Detection and Intervention in Children with Cerebral...
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Advances in Early Detection and Intervention in Children with Cerebral Palsy

A special issue of Children (ISSN 2227-9067). This special issue belongs to the section "Pediatric Neurology & Neurodevelopmental Disorders".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 April 2026) | Viewed by 998

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Matteo Porro

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Pediatric Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Service, NICU, 20122 Milan, Italy
Interests: physical rehabilitation; neurofunctional assessment; preterm infant; neurological risk; cerebral palsy; genetic syndrome; neurodevelopmental disorders; neurorehabilitation; motor development; neurologic gait disorders
Dr. Odoardo Picciolini

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Pediatric Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20122 Milan, Italy
Interests: physical medicine; physical rehabilitation; premature infant; musculoskeletal disorders; posture; cerebral palsy; neurodevelopmental disorders; motor learning; neurorehabilitation; motor development; neurologic gait disorders

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Early diagnosis of cerebral palsy (CP) is crucial for initiating timely and targeted rehabilitative interventions. Current evidence indicates that brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), general movement (GM) assessment, and standardized neurological assessments such as the Hammersmith Infant Neurological Examination (HINE) are the most reliable predictors for CP diagnosis before five months of age.

However, in children younger than two years, establishing both the topography and functional prognosis of CP remains a challenge.

In addition to identifying the underlying functional architecture, a key component of early management lies in predicting developmental outcomes.

Early, individualized interventions have demonstrated efficacy in promoting neurodevelopment, improving motor performance, and strengthening family-centered care. Given the growing array of diagnostic and prognostic tools, the need for integrated clinical approaches is growing. These strategies go beyond a binary diagnostic perspective and place greater emphasis on the child's functional profile from the earliest stages of development. This Special Issue aims to bring together research on clinical tools and rehabilitation approaches that can be used to implement targeted rehabilitation interventions in children with CP.

We therefore trust in your valuable collaboration and look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Matteo Porro
Dr. Odoardo Picciolini
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Children is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • cerebral palsy
  • early intervention
  • physiotherapy
  • occupational therapy
  • speech therapy
  • spasticity management
  • assistive technology
  • rehabilitation

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

13 pages, 250 KB  
Article
Changes in General Movements During Early Intensive Rehabilitation in High-Risk Infants with Structural Brain Injury: A Preliminary Study
by Svetislav Polovina, Andrea Polovina, Jelena Erceg, Ema Dobrijević, Tanja Škorić Polovina and Romana Gjergja Juraški
Children 2026, 13(5), 598; https://doi.org/10.3390/children13050598 - 27 Apr 2026
Viewed by 600
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Abnormal general movements (GMs) in high-risk infants are among the most sensitive early predictors of cerebral palsy (CP) and other neurodevelopmental disorders. This study described changes in the quality of GMs over time in high-risk infants who received the Early Intensive Stojčević–Polovina [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Abnormal general movements (GMs) in high-risk infants are among the most sensitive early predictors of cerebral palsy (CP) and other neurodevelopmental disorders. This study described changes in the quality of GMs over time in high-risk infants who received the Early Intensive Stojčević–Polovina Rehabilitation Method (EIR–SPM). The EIR–SPM is a rehabilitation method designed for children with CP, those at risk of developing CP, and children with other developmental disabilities. In high-risk infants, it is initiated within the first three months of corrected age, preferably while writhing movements (WMs) are still present. Methods: This study was conducted in eight high-risk infants with abnormal WMs and structural brain injury. The EIR–SPM was initiated between 41 and 47 weeks postmenstrual age (PMA) and was applied until 60 weeks PMA. Prechtl’s General Movements Assessment (GMA), the Detailed GM score, and the Motor Optimality Score–Revised (MOS–R) were assessed. Results: During the writhing period, two infants showed a poor repertoire (PR) pattern and six showed a cramped–synchronized (CS) pattern of GMs; at follow-up, three showed PR, and five showed CS. During the fidgety period, two infants showed normal fidgety movements (F+), two sporadic fidgety movements (sFM), one infant showed abnormal fidgety movements (aFM), and three showed absent fidgety movements (F−) at the first assessment, while at the second assessment, three infants showed F+, two sFM, one aFM, and two F−. The median Detailed GM score increased from 12 (range 11–17) to 13.5 (range 11–19; p = 0.068). The median MOS–R increased from 17.0 (range 12–24) to 19.5 (range 17–27) between the two fidgety assessments (p = 0.027). Conclusions: Improvements in motor repertoire, reflected by increased MOS–R scores, were observed during the EIR–SPM initiated in the writhing period. Larger controlled studies are needed to confirm these preliminary observations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Early Detection and Intervention in Children with Cerebral Palsy)
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