Ride-on cars provide confidence boost for SMA children: Study
Removing barriers to accessibility aids emotional well-being
Offering children with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) type 1 the opportunity to move around on their own using motorized, ride-on cars may boost their confidence, help them connect with others, and make them feel more included, a small study found.
“Powered mobility not only facilitates movement but also promotes emotional well-being and social engagement and enhances family interactions,” the researchers wrote. “However, addressing and overcoming architectural and accessibility barriers is essential.”
Real progress depends on removing those barriers and supporting families through teamwork with professionals, according to the researchers. The study used the photovoice method, in which parents documented their children’s experiences through photographs and comments.
The study, “Families’ Perceptions of Powered Mobility for Participation in Children With Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type 1: A Photovoice Study,” was published in Health Expectations.
Children with SMA type 1, the most common and one of the most severe types of SMA, have very limited movement and often need help with everyday activities. Adapting a battery-powered ride-on car to fit a child’s motor abilities can help the child be more mobile.
Engagement, accessibility, teamwork key to success
The researchers explored how powered mobility can help these children feel more included in everyday life. The main goal of the study was to learn what families think about powered mobility.
The study involved six children in Spain ranging in age from 13-28 months, all diagnosed with SMA type 1. Interviews with their families yielded three main themes: emotional and social engagement, barriers to accessibility, and teamwork with professionals.
After a training period of about three months, the children used the ride-on cars at home and in their communities for four weeks. Each family selected 20 photos that best represented how powered mobility affected their child’s emotions and ability to interact with others, and how easy it was to access places such as stores.
Children showed a range of emotions when they first started using the ride-on cars. Some were curious, others were excited or happy, while some were hesitant or afraid. “At first, he cried when placed in the car, but after a few sessions, he smiled and moved on his own,” one mother said.
The children had their own reasons for using the ride-on cars, such as playing with the family dog or chasing a sibling. “My son is used to his brother being faster and taking his toys, and now it appears to be he wants to get even,” one mother said. “I love seeing them play together.”
Over time, those moments helped the children bond and grow with their families, the researchers said. “As the weeks went by, the environment changed, as did the people accompanying him and those he could interact with, allowing him to make more decisions,” they wrote about one child.
Children used the ride-on car for outings including going to parks, shopping, walking with their families, exploring nature, and feeding a horse. It gave them new opportunities to learn, engage in play, and be part of everyday life, their families said.
“Of all the benefits that the car toy could bring us, I never thought it would help him make friends,” a mother said. “Before, just thinking about coming to the park was an effort; it scared me, but now I see him happy.”
Families also shared some challenges with using the ride-on car. At home, narrow doorways made it difficult to move around, which frustrated some children. Outside, uneven ground, narrow sidewalks, and missing ramps often limited their ability to move around safely.
“It is clear that the car has given my son independence, but this independence depends on where we are, we need to think first about where to go, if the plan is compatible with the car,” one parent said.
Another father said some areas lacked ramps, “making it impossible to use the car outdoors.”
Despite barriers to accessibility, the photos and experiences shared by the families “demonstrated that powered mobility not only facilitates movement but also promotes emotional well-being and social engagement and enhances family interactions,” the researchers wrote.
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