Mobility is important for the cognitive and psychosocial development of children. Almost one third of children with cerebral palsy (CP) are non-ambulant. Wheelchairs can provide independent mobility, allowing them to explore their environment. Independent mobility is vital for activity and participation and reduces the dependence on caregivers. The purpose of this study was to describe the use of manual and powered wheelchair indoors and outdoors in relation to the degree of independent wheelchair mobility or need for assistance in a total population of children with CP.
A wheelchair, often abbreviated to just “chair”, is a chair with wheels, used by people for whom CP Chair come in a wide variety of formats to meet the specific needs of their users. They may include specialized seating adaptions, individualized controls, and may be specific to particular activities, as seen with sports wheelchairs and beach wheelchairs. The most widely recognised distinction is between powered wheelchairs (“powerchairs”), where propulsion is provided by batteries and electric motors, and manually propelled wheelchairs, where the propulsive force is provided either by the wheelchair user/occupant pushing the wheelchair by hand (“self-propelled”), or by an attendant pushing from the rear (“attendant propelled”). walking is difficult or impossible due to illness, injury, or disability.
Tips for Caring for a Disabled Child
- Feeding and eating: A disabled child may have problems with feeding and eating for many different reasons, such as- physical problems that cause difficulty swallowing, chewing, sucking or digesting certain foods limited mobility, which might make it difficult to sit up to eat or drink a learning disability, which could make it more difficult to learn .
- Sleeping: If a child doesn’t sleep well, tiredness can affect the whole family. Disabled children can have sleep problems for a range of physical reasons, such as muscle spasms or breathing difficulties, depending on their particular condition. Children with some learning disabilities may find it hard to understand why and when they need to sleep.
- Using the toilet: All children are different, but most show signs of being ready to learn to use the toilet at around two or three years old. Some disabled children may not be ready until they’re older or they may take longer to learn.
- Moving around easily: If you’re concerned about your child’s ability to move around normally, your GP may refer you to a nearby physiotherapist to assess their mobility needs.
- Challenging behaviour: Challenging behaviour can be common in children with learning or sensory disabilities. This is because communication problems can make it difficult for them to express their needs, likes and dislikes.
- Communicating with your child: Some physical conditions and learning disabilities can mean that your child has little or no clear speech, or their speech may be slow to develop. You may worry about how well they will communicate with you and other people as they grow up.
When it comes to wheelchairs, young children have a different set of needs than adults. Aesthetically, devices designed for kids are often sleek and colorful, and functionally, they are typically lightweight and adjustable. As any parent knows, young people don’t stay the same size for long and — since a Child Wheelchair is a major purchase — you don’t want a simple growth spurt to render it useless. That’s why our kids wheelchair category offers models that feature seat width and depth adjustability, elevating legrests, and other versatile features. If you’re looking for a safe, affordable mobility solution for the child in your care, you’re in the right place.
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