INTRODUCTION Year after year, we spend an increasing amount of time in a sitting position. Often, we sit with poor posture, as indicated by numerous pain syndromes within the musculoskeletal system. Several reports confirm that body posture and the amount of time spent in a seated position have extensive implications for our health. Previous studies and a literature review suggest there is limi...

The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of adaptive seating on oral-motor functioning as it relates to eating and drinking in 11 children with multiple handicaps between the ages of 1 and 4 years. An assessment instrument with a behavioral base was used for the seven direct observations of each child's motor behavior. During the first and last visit the parent or guardian filled ou...

Changing seating posture can extend the amount of time a person can safely remain seated without damaging tissue or becoming fatigued. The Excelsior is an electrically powered wheelchair that utilizes sit-to-stand (STS) and sit-to-recline (STR) motions to aid in pressure relief. The motion of the wheelchair seating system must closely follow anatomical paths or ulcers may develop from the resul...

Load deflection and hysteresis measurements were made on 37 wheelchair seating cushions according to ISO 16840-2:2007. Load deflection plots for all 37 cushions are reported and fundamental aspects of graph interpretation discussed. ISO hysteresis data are also reported and interpretation discussed.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects of special seating on lateral spinal curvature in the non-ambulant spastic cerebral palsy population with scoliosis. DESIGN Prospective study with matched pairs (same subject pre- and post-intervention). BACKGROUND It is thought that special seating can improve the sitting posture of individuals with spastic cerebral palsy. However, there is little known...