Hejal P Patel
Charotar University of Science and Technology, India
Title: Mobility methods adopted by children with cerebral palsy in the community
Biography
Biography: Hejal P Patel
Abstract
Introduction: Children with cerebral palsy (CP) are more dependent on adult assistance for mobility in certain setting. The environmental influences can have a signifi cant influence on the mobility methods used by children with CP.
Objective: The objective of the study was to identify the mobility methods used by the children with cerebral palsy in varied environmental setting.
Statement of the problem: Mobility methods such as use of wheel chairs might facilitate greater social participation than being carried around by others. Children with CP are more dependent on adult assistance for mobility in certain setting. The characteristics of the environment might infl uence adopting a particular form of mobility method.
Significance of the research: Identifying difference in the mobility methods used in various environmental setting could be helpful to understand the influence of environmental setting and develop adaptive strategies for improving children’s mobility in various contexts.
Method: 126 children with CP are included in the study (mean age 8.91±4.06, 50 girls). All children were classified according to GMFCS. Parent-completed questionnaire was used for identifying the mobility methods, mobility aids and mobility equipment.
Results: Out of 126 children, 51 (40.5%) and 48 (38.1%) walk alone without any assistance in home and in school, respectively. In community, 40 (31.7%) were carried by an adult cerebral. Use of wheel chair as a mobility method is limited across all setting.
Discussion: Compared with children mobility at school, children were more dependent on adult assistance for mobility when outdoor or in community and less dependent on adult assistance at home. This may be due to the lack of infrastructure conducive for wheel chair use such as uneven roads, transport services with wheel chair access and parents’ lack of confidence or over protective concerns related to fall.
Conclusion: Encouraging parents to adopt wheeled mobility and improving physical infrastructure to facilitate wheel chair use can promote active social participation of children with cerebral palsy.
