Walkers, Standers, Crutches & Wheelchairs

Pediatric Walkers

There are many kinds of pediatric walkers. Some provide a framework for balance purposes only, while others are designed to provide almost full support for a child. Below is a list of different features a pediatric walker might offer:

• An anterior walker (one the child pushes forward)
• A posterior walker (one a child pulls)
• Two-wheeled
• Four-wheeled
• Ratcheted wheels (to prevent a walker from moving backward)
• Swivel wheels (to allow a child to steer a walker without picking it up to maneuver it)
• Brakes
• Pelvic supports
• Trunk supports
• Forearm supports, with or without straps to help a child hold onto the walker
• Different gripped handles
• Straps to help control a child's legs
• A seat for the child to turn around and take a rest if endurance is an issue
• Baskets to help transport items
• Collapsible (for transporting)
• Height adjustability to grow with a child
   

Standers

Standers are equipment that provides what the name implies a place for your child to stand! They can come with a wide range of support and different options, such as:

• Different angles your child can be positioned in, from being almost on the tummy, to standing fully upright, to lying on the back
• Comes with straps and support systems from full support to partial support
• Can come with a tray to provide a place to play with toys or eat
• Can be a place to sit and work on sit to stand activities
• Adjustability to grow with the child
   

Standers are used for many purposes, such as:

• Giving your child the experience of standing through his or her legs in proper body alignment to help muscle and bone development
• An opportunity to work on vision in a different position
• Providing an opportunity for play and to learn in different positions
• An opportunity to work on head and trunk control
• Help a child gain or maintain flexibility
• Help decrease spasticity (tight muscles)
• Providing health benefits (such as decreasing skin breakdown by providing another position for the child to be in, it improves cardiopulmonary function, can help digestion, etc.)
• Allow a child to interact in a more socially appropriate position in school
   

Pediatric Crutches

Pediatric forearm crutches are a cross between regular crutches and a cane. Instead of supporting weight just under the armpits, a child is able to get support through the forearms and hold onto a handle. Children who might use forearm crutches are:

• Able to walk very slowly independently, but can keep up with their peers much better using forearm crutches
• Able to walk very slowly independently, but use forearm crutches to conserve energy to do other activities
• Have good enough balance not to use a walker, but still need support in order to walk
• Use forearm crutches to enable them to access more environments than a walker
   

Pediatric Wheelchairs

There are many different kinds of pediatric wheelchairs.

Some are manual (self-propelled by the child or caregiver), while others are electric (motorized).

Typically, a physical therapist evaluates a child's abilities, and determines how much support and what specialized equipment is needed to maximize a child's independence. What environments a wheelchair is going to be used in also plays a role in what kind is best for the child.

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