Abstract
Aim
To estimate the probability of independent walking and wheeled mobility in individuals with cerebral palsy (CP) at home and in the community in relation to age and gross motor function.
Method
This was a longitudinal cohort study using data reported into the combined Swedish CP follow-up programme and national quality registry from October 2000 to October 2022. Walking, walking with aids, wheeled mobility, and assisted mobility defined independent or assisted mobility at home and in the community, based on the Functional Mobility Scale with additional data on wheelchair performance, were assessed.
Results
There were 52 858 examinations reported for 6647 individuals with CP (age range 0–32 years, follow-up period 0–22 years). Most children and adults in Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) levels I or II walked without assistive devices. The probability of dependence on others for mobility in the community was high for both children and adults in GMFCS levels III to V.
Interpretation
Although independent mobility is vital for participation and social inclusion, many children and adults with CP are dependent on others for mobility. We recommend clinicians, together with families and individuals with CP, explore how to increase access to independent mobility from an early age and continuously throughout the life course.
To estimate the probability of independent walking and wheeled mobility in individuals with cerebral palsy (CP) at home and in the community in relation to age and gross motor function.
Method
This was a longitudinal cohort study using data reported into the combined Swedish CP follow-up programme and national quality registry from October 2000 to October 2022. Walking, walking with aids, wheeled mobility, and assisted mobility defined independent or assisted mobility at home and in the community, based on the Functional Mobility Scale with additional data on wheelchair performance, were assessed.
Results
There were 52 858 examinations reported for 6647 individuals with CP (age range 0–32 years, follow-up period 0–22 years). Most children and adults in Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) levels I or II walked without assistive devices. The probability of dependence on others for mobility in the community was high for both children and adults in GMFCS levels III to V.
Interpretation
Although independent mobility is vital for participation and social inclusion, many children and adults with CP are dependent on others for mobility. We recommend clinicians, together with families and individuals with CP, explore how to increase access to independent mobility from an early age and continuously throughout the life course.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1-7 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Journal | Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published (in print/issue) - 9 Aug 2023 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:This study was supported by grants from FORTE, the Swedish Research Council for Health, Working Life, and Welfare (Grant No: 2018‐01468), Stiftelsen för bistånd åt rörelsehindrade i Skåne, and a travel grant from KNAW Ter Meulen Grant/KNAW Medical Sciences Fund, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts & Sciences (SN).
Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 The Authors. Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Mac Keith Press.
