Maria Jones

To learn where pediatric physical therapists in the United States are in the process of knowledge translation of the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS). Links to an online survey were distributed electronically. All 283 respondents reported hearing about the GMFCS, 95% agreed it was useful, 81% reported they were confident in their ability to use it, 77% reported they use it, and 42% reported they use it consistently. Therapists primarily used the GMFCS to predict gross motor function, set realistic goals, and anticipate need for assistive technology. The American Physical Therapy Association Section on Pediatrics members were more likely than nonmembers to agree the GMFCS is useful, they are able to use it, that they use it, and that they use it consistently. The majority of therapists responding use the GMFCS, but not consistently. For more insights from the authors, see Supplemental Digital Content 1, available at http://links.lww.com/PPT/A91.

The purpose of this pilot randomized controlled study was to identify any effects of power wheelchairs on the development and function of young children with severe motor impairments. Participants were 28 children with various diagnoses, aged 14 to 30 months when they entered the study. The Battelle Developmental Inventory (BDI), Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory, and Early Coping Inventory were administered at entry and after 12 months. The on-protocol analysis comparing median change scores showed the experimental groups' BDI receptive communication scores, and their Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory mobility functional skills, mobility caregiver assistance, and self-care caregiver scores improved significantly more than the control group's scores. An intention-to-treat analysis upheld the findings and revealed an additional difference between the groups' BDI total score. The results support use of power wheelchairs with children as young as age 14 months to enhance development and function, although additional research is needed.

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.