Infant walkers and cerebral palsy
V. A. Holm, L. Harthun-Smith and W. L. Tada
We studied a 1-year-old infant with spastic cerebral palsy in its early
stage. An infant walker was used by the mother to amuse the infant, but the
walker was observed to produce a positive support reflex, perpetuating a
primitive reflex that should fade during the first year of life. The walker
also prevented the infant from practicing equilibrium reactions and
protective responses that should be developing during this age. Positions
assumed by the infant in the walker contribute to the development of common
adverse sequelae of spastic cerebral palsy: heel cord contractures,
sublocations and dislocations of the hips, and pronation contractures of
the upper extremities.
