Feldner receives $40,000 grant to study supported walking in infants with Down Syndrome

Heather Feldner, PT, PhD, Assistant Professor, is a co-investigator on a grant award just announced by the Foundation for Physical Therapy Research for $40,000 over one year. Together with Principal Investigator Kari Kretch, PT, PhD (University of Southern California), their project is titled: Development of supported overground walking in infants with Down Syndrome. Stanley Paris and Catherine Patla generously agreed to support this grant through the Paris Patla Endowment Fund.

This project will evaluate the feasibility of individualized prescription of supported stepping technology (for example, walkers and gait trainers) to facilitate overground walking practice in infants and toddlers with Down syndrome that are not yet walking independently. The team, led by Dr. Kretch, will be evaluating the developmental trajectory of supported overground walking in infants and identifying markers of readiness for supported overground walking to assist with clinical decision making during early intervention. Ensuring children's access to mobility and exploration at ages and stages similar to peers without disabilities is a critical part of equitable and on time mobility.