The appropriate seating system can improve mobility, function and efficiency or decrease pain. For instance, one of Christie's patients could brush his teeth after having a more supportive back installed on his wheelchair. You also may have to create a new seat and back mold to accommodate body changes or disease progression. A person with limited sensation will require a system that provides more pressure relief. Family members, caretakers and coworkers need to understand the chair's components and how they assist the user.
Some people use a wheelchair only at home.
Others need mobility equipment to travel around the community or at work. Once you've assessed the patient's needs and abilities, begin evaluating the devices, adaptations or seating systems. It's important to evaluate each patient's positioning needs to determine which seating system will promote optimal posture, breathing and skin integrity, says Susan Taylor, an occupational therapist at the seating and positioning clinic at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago. When developing a seating system, keep in mind that the patient's comfort level is one of the most important aspects of an evaluation process, stresses Mark Raymond, MS, PT, director of rehabilitation services at Chestnut Hill Rehabilitation Hospital in Philadelphia. By focusing on comfort and function from the beginning, you can avoid positioning problems that can lead to pressure sores.