Mobility guidelines for the care of people with spina bifida.
Pamela E Wilson, Shubhra Mukherjee
PMID 33325411WHAT IT FOUND
Mobility guidance for spina bifida is mostly expert consensus, not tested interventions.
It suggests assessing neurologic level, using appropriate braces or wheelchairs, and monitoring skin, pain, and function across ages.
Key findings
01The guideline team identified 19 journal articles specific to mobility and found limited research for many topics.
02Where evidence was limited, the group developed expert consensus recommendations.
03The recommendations include standardized neurologic and motor assessment, bracing or wheelchair fitting, and monitoring for skin and secondary injuries.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The paper is a guideline development report, not a trial, so it does not show that any device or therapy improves mobility or development. Many recommendations are labeled clinical consensus because the mobility literature was limited. The authors state that changes in mobility from secondary complications, aging, and overuse are not well understood.
Declared interests
The supplied metadata lists research support from the U.S. Government and Public Health Service; no conflict-of-interest statement is provided.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read these recommendations as proof that braces, wheelchairs, standing frames, or therapy improve outcomes. The paper reports expert consensus and limited literature, not tested patient results.