Pediatric Walking Aids: Posterior Safety Roller, Pelvic Stabilizers, Posterior Gait Trainer And Rolling Walkers

 “The greatest glory in living is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.” These words of wisdom, from Nobel Peace Prize winner Nelson Mandela, is true figuratively and literally for children learning to walk. Most toddlers move precariously from crawling to standing to stumbling to walking by the age of two. However, some children have serious obstacles to overcome before they can move around on their own. Cerebral palsy, stroke, serious injuries, and Down syndrome are a few conditions that cause children to need pediatric walking aids.

When a child's natural learning curve is stunted, a team of professionals decides how much support a child needs. They consider age, abilities, and disabilities and decide which kind of pediatric walking aids will be most appropriate. This team usually includes the child's pediatrician, occupational therapist and/or physical therapist. All caregivers and classroom facilitators should then be trained on how the elected pediatric walking aids and attachments work.

Most rolling walkers have either anterior or posterior support. Anterior rolling walkers provide support in the front, allowing the child to lean forward as he or she steps forward without falling on his or her knees. Some anterior pediatric walking aids include a fun basket attachment in front, much like a child's bicycle might. Wenzalite Pediatric Anterior Safety Rollers sell for $210 at Southwest Medical Online. These pediatric walking aids come in the youngster's choice of red, burgundy, blue, and black.

A posterior safety roller, on the other hand, offers support from behind. These pediatric walking aids look like a regular walker in reverse, with wheels on all four legs. These pediatric walking aids enable users to gain better upright posture and trunk extension. UCan Health sells a foldable, steel-frame posterior safety roller with skid-proof wheels for $339. Several other posterior pediatric walking aids are available at 1-800Wheelchair.com and Ocelco, prices ranging from $105 to $219.

A pelvic stabilizer is beneficial for children who need even more support from their pediatric walking aids than rolling walkers can provide. Sold as an attachment to pediatric rolling walkers, the pelvic stabilizer is a cushioned belt or lateral support that holds the user centered in the walker. This positioning promotes symmetry and alignment as the child's muscles memorize the healthy posture. Ocelco sells a pelvic stabilizer attachment compatible with Nimbo Safety Rollers for $63.

The posterior gait trainer is one of the most effective pediatric walking aids for children who have limited trunk control. Padded support is available in the rear of the posterior gait trainer, distinguishing it from the bare bones frame of the posterior safety roller. The Star posterior gait trainer also comes with ankle supports, preventing scissoring and improving pace. This posterior gait trainer costs $1,070.95 at Adaptivemall.com.

While the main goal of pediatric walking aids are to foster a child's ability to walk independently, secondary benefits enrich the child's life through the learning process. A child's experience of the world improves wildly once she or he gains control over where she or he goes and how she or he gets there. Confidence sparks a new light in a child's face when dependent forms of transportation like strollers and wheelchairs are no longer the only options. With the help of pediatric walking aids, many children with disabilities and injuries grow to possess all the freedom they could want.


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