Mobility device use in children with cerebral palsy.
Elizabeth Maus, Ben Reader, Jill C Heathcock
PMID 40312278WHAT IT FOUND
Children with cerebral palsy used more mobility devices as they aged, with wheelchair likelihood increasing yearly.
Lower-extremity braces were the most common device across all severity levels. Walkers and standers were underused compared to clinical need, suggesting gaps in equipment access rather than prescription.
Key findings
01For every one-year increase in age, the number of mobility devices a child used increased by 8.2%, and the likelihood of using a wheelchair increased by a factor of 1.5.
02Children at GMFCS level V used significantly more total mobility devices than those at levels I, II, or III, but there was no significant difference between levels IV and V.
03Lower-extremity braces were used by 75% of participants, showing no significant relationship with GMFCS level, income, or insurance, while walkers and standers were underused relative to clinical requirements.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The study combined power and manual wheelchairs into a single category, hiding specific access issues for powered mobility. It was conducted at a single site in the Midwestern USA, so regional funding practices may not apply elsewhere. The age range was limited to early childhood, missing patterns that emerge as children grow older. Device use was reported by parents and did not measure adherence or how often the child actually used the equipment. The sample had a higher proportion of Medicaid coverage than typical for children with cerebral palsy, though this matched the local region.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that high brace usage indicates good functional outcomes or adherence. The study measured possession and reported use, not whether the child wore them as prescribed or benefited from them.
Summarised by AI from the full paper, without a clinician reviewing it. Check it against the source before it changes what you do. Read it on PubMed →