Home and Community Use of a Suspension Walker in Pre-Walking Infants With Down Syndrome

Feasibility of a Novel Overground Stepping Intervention for Pre-Walking Infants With Down Syndrome

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if pre-walking infants with Down syndrome can use a suspension walker in their home and community environments. The main questions it aims to answer are:

• Is suspension walker intervention feasible for pre-walking infants with Down syndrome?
• What are barriers to successfully using suspension walkers in home and community environments?
• What are facilitators for successfully using suspension walkers in home and community environments?

Participants will:

• Use a suspension walker in the home and community for a three-month period (goal 20 minutes/day, 5 days/week)
• Meet with a therapist three times in their home to learn how to use the walker
• Track how often they use the walker for one week each month
• Complete assessments of infants' gross motor skill and ability to use the walker before and after the three-month period
• Be interviewed after the three-month period about their experiences using the walker

Inclusion Criteria:

• Diagnosis of Down syndrome
• 10-13 months of age
• Able to sit independently
• Unable to walk independently

Exclusion Criteria:

• Medical or orthopedic conditions other than Down syndrome that prevent standing or walking