Kids Rehab is a busy clinical unit which currently serves more than 3,000 patients. Over 60% of our staff is actively involved in clinical research.
We are one of the largest centres providing botulinum toxins therapy for children with spasticity in Australia, and our ongoing research in this area has contributed greatly to international knowledge of the outcomes and safety profile of this important treatment. We are also known for our research into dystonia and acquired brain injury.
In addition to projects being conducted within our unit, we collaborate on a wide range of projects within the wider community of The Children’s Hospital at Westmead and at a state-wide and international level.
Please visit the Kids Rehab page on the SCHN website for general information. Research enquiries can also be directed to: kidsrehab.schn@health.nsw.gov.au
Current projects
Current projects within the department include:
- Management of spasticity using botulinum toxin and evaluating and auditing outcomes and adverse events
- Evaluation of transition to adult services and assessment of school support for adolescents with acquired brain injury
- Bright Hearts: biofeedback mediated relaxation for the management of pain and anxiety using the BrightHearts App
- N-of-1 trials: treatment options for children with attention and behavioural difficulties following acquired brain injury
- Long-term effects of aquatic immersion on the health and well-being of children who experienced a near drowning
- Comparison of knee exercise programs for children and adolescents with symptomatic joint hypermobility
- Computerised cognitive rehabilitation of working memory for children with traumatic brain injury
- Cognitive behaviour therapy for managing anxiety in adolescents with acquired brain injury
- Genetic testing and “Potty Monkey” toilet training in children with cerebral palsy
The research team
- Dr Angela Morrow, Kids Rehab Staff Specialist, email: angela.morrow@sydney.edu.au
- Dr Mary-Clare Waugh, Kids Rehab Staff Specialist
- Dr Simon Paget, Kids Rehab Staff Specialist
- Dr Louise Tofts, Kids Rehab physician
- Martine Simons-Coghill, Senior Social Worker
- Karen Burton, Research Officer
Key publications
Pacey V, Tofts L, Wesley A, Collins F, Singh-Grewal D (2015) Joint hypermobility syndrome: a review for clinicians. J Paediatr Child Health 51(4):373-80
Paget SP, Lilischkis L, Morrow AM & Caldwell PHY (2014) Embedding research in clinical practice: differences in attitudes to research participation amongst clinicians in a tertiary teaching hospital. Internal Medicine Journal 44(1): 86-89
Foley S, Kovács Z, Rosec J, Lamb R, Tolliday F, Simons-Coghill M, et al. (2013) International collaboration on prevention of shaken baby syndrome an ongoing project/intervention. Paediatric International Child Health 33(4), Special Issue on Child maltreatment and neglect: understanding it and responding to the challenge.
Hugh EJ, McKinlay L, Nikles J, Schluter PJ, Carmont S-A, Waugh M-C, Epps A, Lloyd O, Mitchell GK (2013) Central nervous system stimulants for secondary attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder after paediatric traumatic brain injury: a rationale and protocol for single patient (n-of-1) multiple cross-over trials. BMC Pediatrics 13:89
Chow MY, Morrow A, Heron L, Yin JK, Booy R & Leask J (2013) Quality of life for parents of children with influenza-like illness: development and validation of Care-ILI-QoL. Qual Life Res Oct 1. [Epub]
Biggin, Briody J, Ramjan, Middleton, Waugh M-C & Munns C (2013) Evaluation of bone mineral density and morphology using pQCT in children after spinal cord injury. Developmental Neurorehabilitation
Tofts LJ & Hamblin N (2013) C-Leg improves function and quality of life in an adolescent traumatic transfemoral amputee – a case study. Prosthetics and orthotics international 09.
Pacey V, Tofts L, Adams R, Munns CF & Nicholson LL (2013). Exercise in children with joint hypermobility syndrome and knee pain: a randomised controlled trial comparing exercise into hypermobile versus neutral knee extension. Paediatric Rheumatology 11(1):30
Ireland, PJ, Ware, RS, Donaghey, S, McGill, J, Zankl, A, Pacey V, Ault, J, Savarirayan, R, Sillence, D, Thompson, E, Townshend, S & Johnston, LM (2013).The effect of height, weight and head circumference on gross motor development in achondroplasia. Journal of Paediatric Child Health.49(2):E122-7.
