Passive stretching exercises are CONTRAINDICATED for a child with which condition?

Passive stretching exercises are contraindicated for a child with osteogenesis imperfecta due to the fragile nature of their bones, which are prone to fractures and breaks with minimal stress. Osteogenesis imperfecta is a genetic disorder characterized by the lack of collagen production, leading to brittle bones. In individuals with this condition, the mechanical stress applied during passive stretching can increase the risk of sustaining fractures. Therefore, interventions involving any significant range of motion or tensile force on the joints or muscles need to be approached with caution, making passive stretching particularly risky for these children.

In contrast, while conditions like spina bifida, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, and cerebral palsy may require careful management and consideration in terms of the types of stretching and mobility interventions, they do not inherently carry the same risk of skeletal fragility as osteogenesis imperfecta. Hence, passive stretching might still be considered under specific circumstances and with appropriate precautions in those cases.