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Use of Power Mobility for a Young Child With Spinal Muscular Atrophy

MA Jones, PT, MS, ATP, is a clinical physical therapist and doctoral student, College of Allied Health, Department of Rehabilitation Science, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, 1600 N Phillips, Oklahoma City, OK 73104 (USA) (maria-jones{at}ouhsc.edu).
IR McEwen, PT, PhD, is Presbyterian Health Foundation Presidential Professor and Vice Chairman, Department of Rehabilitation Science, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
L Hansen, PT, MS, is a clinical physical therapist and doctoral student, College of Allied Health, Department of Rehabilitation Science, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center

Address all correspondence to Mrs Jones

Background and Purpose. Young children with severe motor impairments, such as spinal muscular atrophy, are often unable to move around their environment independently; therefore, they may be at risk for delays in areas of development not directly related to their motor limitations. Power mobility is an intervention that provides young children a means of independent movement and enables them to independently explore their environment. Case Description. The participant was a 20-month-old girl with type II spinal muscular atrophy. Intervention. The authors provided the child with a power wheelchair and gave her mother and physical therapist general guidelines to encourage her use of the power wheelchair. Outcomes. Within 6 weeks after receiving the power wheelchair, the child operated the wheelchair independently. She showed developmental gains in all domains of the Battelle Developmental Inventory and the Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory over 6 months. The authors conducted an interview with the child's mother before and after intervention. She reported that the child was more independent after receiving the power wheelchair. Discussion. The power wheelchair may have been associated with the changes in the child's mobility and her developmental changes over 6 months.

Key Words: Developmental skills • Power mobility • Young children

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