Scootering for Children and Youth Is More Than Fun: Exploration of a Feasible Approach to Improve Function and Fitness

PURPOSE: Describe scootering as a physical therapy intervention for children/adolescents with mobility limitations within the "F-Words for Child Development" (fitness, function, family, friends, fun, and future) and through motion analysis. METHODS: Perspectives of scootering were explored using the holistic "F-words for Child Development" recommendations for pediatric rehabilitation and through 3-dimensional instrumented motion analysis of children/adolescents with cerebral palsy and children/adolescents with typical development. RESULTS: Scootering was consistent with the F-words tenets for rehabilitative best practice. Many of the motion characteristics of scootering reflected desirable exercise and gait attributes relevant to children/adolescents with cerebral palsy. CONCLUSIONS: Scootering is a feasible, functional, and fun activity that has the potential to address many aspects of fitness, function, and gait; meet the needs of families; and provide opportunities for interaction with friends. It is a physical therapy intervention that has the potential to contribute to future health and well-being of children with disabilities. VIDEO ABSTRACT: For more insights from the authors, see Supplemental Digital Content 1, available at: http://links.lww.com/PPT/A331.

Scootering for Children and Youth Is More Than Fun: Exploration of a Feasible Approach to Improve Function and Fitness Academic Article