The significance of uprightness: parents’ reflections on children’s responses to a hands-free walker for children |
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Authors: | P McKeever B E Rossen H Scott K Robinson-Vincent V Wright |
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Institution: | 1. Bloorview Research Institute , Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital , Toronto , Ontario , Canada;2. Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing , University of Toronto , Toronto , Ontario , Canada;3. Dalla Lana School of Public Health , University of Toronto, Research Assistant Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital , Toronto , Ontario , Canada;4. Dalla Lana School of Public Health , University of Toronto, Research Assistant Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital , Toronto , Ontario , Canada;5. Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing , University of Toronto , Toronto , Ontario , Canada;6. Department of Physical Therapy , University of Toronto , Toronto , Ontario , Canada |
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Abstract: | The benefits and drawbacks of facilitating independent walking in children with physical mobility impairments, such as cerebral palsy, remain to be determined. This knowledge gap creates decision dilemmas about which mobility practices parents and children should adopt and rehabilitation professionals should foster. These dilemmas are reflected in continuing debates about allocation of time, effort and resources to optimize walking versus encouraging use of manual or powered wheelchairs. Recent studies have reported only modest measurable walking progress for severely disabled children using hands-free walkers. Despite these seemingly disappointing results, parents remained highly motivated to encourage their children to use these walking devices and appraised them very positively. In the present paper, we suggest that parents’ symbolic value of their children assuming upright comportment may explain why they perceive hands-free walkers positively and why they are so motivated to devote much time and effort to improving independent, walking-based mobility of their children. |
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Keywords: | children mobility walker rehabilitation |
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