Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 18, 2026
Training Persons with Spinal Cord Injury to Ambulate Using a Powered Exoskeleton
Published on: June 16, 2016
Power mobility training for a 7-month-old infant with spina bifida
Amy Lynch1, Ji-Chul Ryu, Sunil Agrawal
1Infant Motor Behavior Laboratory, Department of Physical Therapy, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA. jacgallo@udel.edu
Purpose:
Power mobility is a critical assistive technology for many children with special needs. Our previous work suggests that certain infants younger than the age 1 year of age can participate in formal power mobility training.
Key Points:
This case report describes the feasibility of providing a power mobility training program with a young infant with spina bifida. Specifically, we longitudinally quantified the infant's driving ability with a joystick-controlled device (UD1), using UD1's onboard computer and video camera from an infant's age of 7 to 12 months. During the training period, the infant improved in all driving variables. The infant's Bayley III cognition and language scores also increased at a rate greater than his chronological age.
Conclusions/Implications For Clinical Practice:
These results suggest that power mobility training within the first year of life may be appropriate for certain populations at risk of immobility.
