Archive for Joanne Barker
Vacuum bell therapy: A nonsurgical option for chest wall depression (pectus excavatum)
Pectus excavatum is one of the most common chest wall abnormalities, affecting about 1 in 300 children. Physicians at Boston Children’s Hospital helped define early treatments for chest wall problems and continue to develop innovative approaches to pectus excavatum. These innovations include a nonsurgical procedure called vacuum bell therapy. While children with severe pectus excavatum ... Read More about Vacuum bell therapy: A nonsurgical option for chest wall depression (pectus excavatum)
Vertebral body tethering: Is it an option for my child?
For years, teens and tweens with idiopathic scoliosis had three treatment options: monitoring, bracing, or spinal fusion surgery. A new option emerged in 2019 when the Food and Drug Administration approved a treatment called vertebral body tethering (VBT). Compared to spinal fusion surgery, VBT offers quicker recovery times and the potential for greater spine mobility ... Read More about Vertebral body tethering: Is it an option for my child?
A Juneteenth celebration of children’s books featuring Black characters
Books can provide a mirror for kids to understand themselves and a window into the world around them. Yet for many generations, Black characters were almost nonexistent in children’s books. Very often, the few that did appear were limited, with one kind of hair and one skin tone. “Thinking about the books that were popular ... Read More about A Juneteenth celebration of children’s books featuring Black characters
Athletes and fatigue: Why am I so tired?
Working out can boost physical and mental energy. Yet sometimes, athletes feel more fatigued than energized. “Feeling tired after a tough workout or bad night’s sleep is normal and temporary,” says Nicole Farnsworth, clinical nutrition specialist in the Sports Medicine Division at Boston Children’s Hospital. “Fatigue is a problem when it interferes with an athlete’s ... Read More about Athletes and fatigue: Why am I so tired?
Celebrating remarkable Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders
Boston Children’s Hospital thrives, thanks in part to the contributions of its Asian American and Pacific Islander staff and clinicians. Whether developing innovative treatments for chronic disease, treating children with complex conditions, or organizing online events to bring remote teams together during the pandemic, our Asian American and Pacific Islander team members are central to ... Read More about Celebrating remarkable Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders
A new treatment option for Jeanne’s infantile scoliosis
If it hadn’t been for the pandemic, Jeanne McDaniel’s treatment for infantile scoliosis would have started when she was 11 months old. Instead, COVID-19 became the first in a series of events that delayed her treatment — and allowed her scoliosis to progress — for months. When her parents sought a second opinion at Boston ... Read More about A new treatment option for Jeanne’s infantile scoliosis
Could returning to sports after COVID-19 harm kids’ mental health?
After a year away from playing, athletes everywhere are excited to jump back into the sports they love. And for the most part, participating in sports is great for kids’ mental health. Yet for some, the demands of training and competition can cause stress and anxiety. While their teammates celebrate their return to play, some ... Read More about Could returning to sports after COVID-19 harm kids’ mental health?
Study links urinary incontinence in female athletes to low energy availability
Urinary incontinence (UI) is a common experience for female athletes that can significantly impact their enjoyment of and participation in sports. Previous studies have shown that female athletes who experience urinary incontinence are more likely to drop out of their sports. Noting a large number of female athletes presenting with urinary incontinence, physicians in the ... Read More about Study links urinary incontinence in female athletes to low energy availability
A modified brace and a new treatment option for infantile scoliosis
While bracing is a common treatment for adolescents with moderate idiopathic scoliosis, infantile scoliosis is typically treated with casting. But putting an infant in a cast requires general anesthesia, which carries risks. And children must remain in their casts 24/7, for weeks or months at a stretch. Parents can only give them a full bath ... Read More about A modified brace and a new treatment option for infantile scoliosis
Organized sports and COVID-19: Are we there yet?
After a long, challenging year, many student athletes have returned to play this spring with joy and relief. But, organized sports have been linked to COVID-19 outbreaks in several states. The CDC warns that those who play close-contact and inside sports are at very high risk of infection. Even as they relax mandates to wear ... Read More about Organized sports and COVID-19: Are we there yet?