In Brief:
The purpose of this study was 1) to test if an orthosis—NF-Walker Orthosis (NFWO) which provides postural stability of the trunk and guides the leg movements during walking, would enable non-ambulant children with cerebral palsy with little or no trunk control to walk; 2) to investigate the development of independent walking ability in children while using a NFWO; and 3) to define requirements for a successful indication. With an NFWO, 78 children (84%) were able to walk; 10 children (11%) used it as a dynamic standing frame only; and 5 children (5%) returned their walker. There was a highly significant increase of independent mobility with the NFWO compared to self-propelled mobility in a wheelchair or tricycle outdoors (p < 0.001) and of bilateral hand function (p < 0.001) as observed by parents and caregivers.
Go to Full Text of this Article
