Power mobility training for a 7-month-old infant with spina bifida.
OBJECTIVE
Power mobility is a critical assistive technology for many children with special needs. Our previous work suggests that certain infants younger than the age 1 year of age can participate in formal power mobility training.


CONCLUSIONS
This case report describes the feasibility of providing a power mobility training program with a young infant with spina bifida. Specifically, we longitudinally quantified the infant's driving ability with a joystick-controlled device (UD1), using UD1's onboard computer and video camera from an infant's age of 7 to 12 months. During the training period, the infant improved in all driving variables. The infant's Bayley III cognition and language scores also increased at a rate greater than his chronological age.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that power mobility training within the first year of life may be appropriate for certain populations at risk of immobility.
Lynch
Amy
A
Infant Motor Behavior Laboratory, Department of Physical Therapy, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA. jacgallo@udel.edu
Ryu
Ji-Chul
JC
Agrawal
Sunil
S
Galloway
James C
JC
D003071:Cognition; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008591:Meningomyelocele / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D009048:Motor Skills; D011594:Psychometrics; D016135:Spinal Dysraphism / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014910:Wheelchairs