Identifying potential secondary impairments in this population is important because it helps PTs to:

• A. Implement preventative measures
• B. Prescribe the most expensive devices
• C. Delay interventions until adulthood
• D. Ignore minor issues

Answer: (A)

Preventing secondary impairments through early identification and proactive care guides PT practice here. In spina bifida/myelomeningocele, neuromuscular deficits and altered biomechanics put a child at risk for contractures, scoliosis, skin breakdown, obesity, and functional limitations. When a PT recognizes these risks, they can implement preventative measures such as maintaining joint range of motion, targeted strengthening, appropriate positioning and seating, pressure-relief and skin care strategies, activity modification, and caregiver education. This approach helps preserve mobility, independence, and quality of life, and can reduce the need for later surgeries or invasive devices. The other choices don’t reflect a preventative, client-centered approach: choosing expensive devices is not about prevention, delaying care until adulthood misses critical developmental windows, and ignoring minor issues would let problems grow unchecked.