Recommendations for mobility in children with spinal cord injury

Mobility is an important aspect of the rehabilitation of children with spinal cord injury (SCI), is a necessary component of life, and is critical in a child's development. Depending upon the individual's age and degree of neurological impairment, the nature of mobility may vary.

The objective of this article is to establish recommendations surrounding the selection of mobility for children with SCI.

Extensive literature review and multidisciplinary peer review.

Types of mobility including power, manual, upright, and community are discussed, and recommendations are made based on medical necessity, neurological level, ASIA Impairment Scale score, and developmental considerations and challenges.

Mobility is critical for proper development to occur in the pediatric population, and it may be challenging to make recommendations for mobility in children with SCI. It is essential for clinicians providing care to children with SCI to address mobility in a comprehensive and longitudinal manner across the children's environments.