Table 2 Responses from prescribers regarding the factors affecting prescription and common contraindications
From: The use and perception of support walkers for children with disabilities: a United Kingdom survey
Factors influencing prescription of support walkers | Prescribers (n = 107) N (%) |
A child’s mobility level | 104 (97.2) |
A child’s tolerance of the support walker | 93 (86.9) |
The activity level of the child | 86 (80.4) |
A child’s enjoyment | 74 (69.2) |
A child’s motor control | 68 (63.6) |
Gait pattern | 63 (58.9) |
Family support | 60 (56.1) |
Space to use and store the support walker | 58 (54.2) |
A child’s cognitive status | 57 (53.3) |
Muscle weakness | 49 (45.8) |
Medical needs of the child | 39 (36.4) |
A child’s balance | 38 (35.5) |
Cost of the support walker | 27 (25.2) |
Available evidence | 23 (21.5) |
Child’s aerobic endurance | 22 (20.6) |
Type of school a child attends | 22 (20.6) |
Other | 8 (7.5) |
Common contraindications to the use of support walkers | Prescribers (n = 107) N (%) |
Lack of head control | 84 (78.5) |
Pain experienced in the walker | 80 (74.8) |
Behaviour issues | 61 (57.0) |
Current hip dislocation | 39 (36.4) |
Cognitive impairment | 35 (32.7) |
Muscle contractures | 32 (29.9) |
Skeletal deformities | 23 (21.5) |
The weight of the child | 22 (20.6) |
Lack of trunk control | 19 (17.8) |
Visual impairment | 18 (16.8) |
Epilepsy | 17 (15.9) |
Reduced bone mineral density | 16 (15.0) |
The height of the child | 12 (11.2) |
Risk of hip dislocation | 11 (10.3) |
Other | 7 (6.5) |