title: Pediatric physical therapists' use of support walkers for children with disabilities: a nationwide survey.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study investigated pediatric physical therapists' use of support walkers (SWs) for children with disabilities.
  
  
  METHODS
  An 8-page survey was mailed to 2500 randomly selected members of the Section on Pediatrics of the American Physical Therapy Association. Respondents to the survey included 513 pediatric physical therapists who were users of SWs. Descriptive statistics were calculated and themes were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Several SWs were reported as used most often to improve gait, mobility, participation at school, and interaction with peers. Use commonly included a month trial before purchase and 9 sessions of physical therapy to train a child for use in school. Reasons given for the use of SWs were improving impairments, functional limitations, and participation with peers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pediatric physical therapists use SWs to increase postural control, mobility, and children's participation in school.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, California State University, Northridge, California 91330, USA. sheryl.low@csun.edu
authors.forename: Sheryl A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Low
authors.forename: Sarah Westcott
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: McCoy
authors.forename: Janna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Beling
authors.forename: Janet
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Adams
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002669:Child Welfare; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003657:Decision Making; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D019988:Children with Disabilities / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait; D020233:Gait Disorders, Neurologic / Q000534:rehabilitation; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051346:Mobility Limitation; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000379:methods*; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities / Q000295:instrumentation*; D011187:Posture; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014853:Walkers; D055815:Young Adult