SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to describe the motor development (MD) and growth of infants born with low birth weight (LBW) versus adequate birth weight (ABW) by using the Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS). METHODS: The cross-sectional study including LBW infants (aged 6–12 months) followed at an outpatient clinic from a University Hospital in Brazil and a group of infants of the same age with ABW. The variables were recorded as maternal, birth, and infant conditions. The infants were assessed for MD using the AIMS. RESULTS: In total, 98 infants (38 LBW versus 60 ABW) were evaluated and no statistically significant differences were found in demographic characteristics and in the AIMS results. The AIMS results of the total sample were suspicious or abnormal MD in 44 (45%) of total infants. Higher frequency of suspected or abnormal motor behavior was found in the age group between 9 and 12 (54.6%) months. CONCLUSIONS: A frequency of 45% of suspected or abnormal behavior was observed in the evaluated infants, with a higher frequency of occurrence in those aged 9–12 months (54.6%).

OBJETIVO: Avaliar, na literatura, a aplicação da hiperinsuflação manual como técnica de fisioterapia respiratória em pediatria, considerando a desobstrução das vias aéreas como desfecho principal. MÉTODOS: Revisão realizada nas bases eletrônicas Lilacs, Biblioteca Cochrane, Medline (via Biblioteca Virtual em Saúde e Pubmed), SciELO e PEDro (período de 2002 a 2013), utilizando os descritores: "physiotherapy (techniques)" "respiratory therapy" "intensive care" e "airway clearance". Os estudos foram selecionados e classificados por nível de evidência e recomendação (método Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine) por dois avaliadores, e um terceiro avaliador refez a pesquisa e conferiu a classificação dos artigos. RESULTADOS: Foram inclusos 3 estudos, que somaram 250 crianças (de zero a 16 anos). Os principais diagnósticos encontrados foram: insuficiência respiratória aguda, pós-operatório de cardiopatias congênitas e abdominais alta, transplante de medula óssea, asma, reconstrução traqueal, lesão cerebral, lesão de vias aéreas e doenças pulmonares heterogêneas. Os estudos foram classificados em nível de evidência 2C e grau de recomendação C. CONCLUSÕES: A hiperinsuflação manual parece ser útil para a desobstrução das vias aéreas nessa população, embora as evidências da literatura sejam ainda insuficientes. Assim, são necessários estudos controlados e randomizados para determinar a segurança e a eficácia da hiperinsuflação manual em pediatria. A mesma deve ser realizada somente por fisioterapeutas treinados.

OBJECTIVE: To perform an assessment of the available literature on manual hyperinflation as a respiratory physical therapy technique used in pediatric patients, with the main outcome of achieving airway clearance. METHODS: We reviewed articles included in the Lilacs (Latin American and Caribbean Literature on Health Sciences/Literatura Latino Americana e do Caribe em Ciências da Saúde), Cochrane Library, Medline (via Virtual Health Library and PubMed), SciELO (Scientific Electronic Library), and PEDro (Physiotherapy Evidence Database) databases from 2002 to 2013 using the following search terms: "physiotherapy (techniques)", "respiratory therapy", "intensive care", and "airway clearance". The selected studies were classified according to the level of evidence and grades of recommendation (method of the Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine) by two examiners, while a third examiner repeated the search and analysis and checked the classification of the articles. RESULTS: Three articles were included for analysis, comprising 250 children (aged 0 to 16 years). The main diagnoses were acute respiratory failure, recovery following heart congenital disease and upper abdominal surgery, bone marrow transplantation, asthma, tracheal reconstruction, brain injury, airway injury, and heterogeneous lung diseases. The studies were classified as having a level of evidence 2C and grade of recommendation C. CONCLUSIONS: Manual hyperinflation appeared useful for airway clearance in the investigated population, although the evidence available in the literature remains insufficient. Therefore, controlled randomized studies are needed to establish the safety and efficacy of manual hyperinflation in pediatric patients. However, manual hyperinflation must be performed by trained physical therapists only.