Effects of Power Wheelchairs on the Development and Function of Young Children With Severe Motor Impairments

Measuring Outcomes for Children with Cerebral Palsy Who Use Gait Trainers

“…Similarly, one study investigating effects of 12 sessions of treadmill training in children aged 2.5-3.9 years at GMFCS levels I-IV [77] also measured change in mobility level and need for caregiver assistance in mobility activities, but not in self-care skills. However, Jones and colleagues [78] measured significant change in mobility skills and reduced need for caregiver assistance in mobility and self-care tasks in subjects versus controls following 12 months power mobility intervention in children at GMFCS levels IV and V aged 14-30 months. This suggests that the PEDI [29] may be more useful as a measure of change in mobility level in shorter-term intervention studies.…”

Toy-Based Technologies for Children with Disabilities Simultaneously Supporting Self-Directed Mobility, Participation, and Function: A Tech Report

“…Over 30 years of research has demonstrated that young children with disabilities who experience the most severe delays in mobility can use powered mobility devices for self-directed mobility (Butler et al, 1983;Galloway et al, 2008;Lynch et al, 2009;Livingstone, 2010;Ragonesi et al, 2010;Jones et al, 2012). Equally important, using this technology results in some of the developmental gains associated with the onset of crawling and walking (Butler et al, 1983;Galloway et al, 2008;Lynch et al, 2009;Livingstone, 2010;Ragonesi et al, 2010;Jones et al, 2012).…”

“…Research in developmental psychology and pediatric rehabilitation demonstrates that active (i.e., self-directed) movement experiences are fundamentally different and more advantageous compared to passive movement experiences (Held and Hein, 1963;Libertus and Needham, 2010;Jones et al, 2012;Lobo et al, 2013). Thus, the relatively passive lives of young children with disabilities who experience limited mobility are especially disturbing.…”

“…Equally important, using this technology results in some of the developmental gains associated with the onset of crawling and walking (Butler et al, 1983;Galloway et al, 2008;Lynch et al, 2009;Livingstone, 2010;Ragonesi et al, 2010;Jones et al, 2012). Unfortunately, the reality is that many if not most of the children who could benefit from powered mobility do not gain access to this technology until after 5 years of age (Nicholson and Bonsall, 2002).…”

Engineering Hope: Enhancing Quality of Life through Design Education

“…As background to the project, the physical therapist explained to the class that young children with these multiple, severe deficits are limited in their ability to use self-initiated movement to explore and learn from the world around them. Such children are often dismissed as either too young or too physically involved to use power mobility [8][9][10][11] . If a trial of power mobility is attempted, simple, readily available power mobility options such as adapted ride-ontoys do not provide these severely involved children with the external support necessary for them to safely and effectively use a joystick or switch to control the mobility device.…”