{"id":30950,"date":"2021-04-13T11:33:05","date_gmt":"2021-04-13T03:33:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.karmamedical.com\/?p=30950"},"modified":"2023-03-15T15:51:40","modified_gmt":"2023-03-15T07:51:40","slug":"will-a-power-wheelchair-slow-down-my-childs-walking-development","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.karmamedical.com\/2021\/04\/will-a-power-wheelchair-slow-down-my-childs-walking-development\/","title":{"rendered":"Will a Power Wheelchair Slow Down My Child\u2019s Walking Development?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Traditionally, power mobility was used as a last resort as a result of failing to walk. Children are expected to walk as much as possible, even though their ambulation was not functional or effective. However, studies have shown that abnormal <\/span>pathological gait patterns<\/span><\/a><\/span> increase muscular demands and energy consumption. The ability to ambulate declines as a child grows older and heavier (J<\/span>ohnston et al., 2004; Rose et al., 1989<\/span><\/i>). It seems that the way we encourage children to explore their environments does not have to be just walking.<\/span><\/p>\n

In the past, doctors, therapists, and parents were hesitant to use powered mobility<\/a><\/span> because it might make the child become \u201clazy\u201d or unmotivated to work on their walking skills. However, this study demonstrated that providing powered mobility didn\u2019t obstruct the development of walking skills<\/a><\/span> (<\/span>Bottos et al., 2001<\/span><\/i>). They also found that the ambulation potential can often be predicted by 3 years of age. Therapists are trained to evaluate childhood milestones of walking and will develop related treatment plans to help a child achieve those milestones. So, think about the importance of early effective mobility and provide children with alternate ways to be independent, which will promote the development of cognitive skills and psychosocial skills.<\/span><\/p>\n\t

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