to go until the London 2012 Paralympic Games

Lauren

Lauren

Improving Lauren’s functional abilities

Lauren is an 11 year old girl with global developmental delay. She tends to adopt a posterior pelvic tilt and kyphotic posture whilst seated (see below). When her feet are unsecured, Lauren tends to flex at the hips and knees, and put her feet up on the seat to stabilise her lower body. Lauren’s therapists are concerned that this postural pattern will cause a pressure sore to develop on her sacrum. Subsequently, this did indeed happen a few weeks after the initial assessment.

Clinical Assessment

Lauren has full range of movement in her lower limbs.

  • On the plinth her kyphosis and posterior pelvic tilt can be straightened into a natural s-shape with minimal effort (right).
  • Although she wears a lap strap and her feet are secure, she slides forward on the gel cushion until her pelvis is at the front edge of the well.
  • She has a distinct area of reddening on her sacrum.

Approach

The KIT seating system has the exclusive Pelvic Cradle which gives unsurpassed proximal pelvic positioning, and the 3-part backrest can support even the most complex users’ unique needs.  Also, leg supports and fully adjustable foot supports maximise overall postural stability.

Therefore the plan was to;
  • Use the Pelvic Cradle in conjunction with a supportive seat cushion, to prevent Lauren’s pelvis from moving forward.
  • Set the 3-part back rest up to provide Lauren with shoulder, thoracic and lumbar support (left).
  • Secure Lauren’s feet underneath her knees using the foot support, to give stability and increase loading through her feet.


Outcome

An upright posture was easily achievable using the KIT seating system (right).  Her pelvis was maintained in neutral alignment, using the Pelvic Cradle to maintain this improved posture. Pressure mapping showed that loading was moved from her sacrum onto her ITs and femurs, thus distributing the weight and reducing the risk of pressure sores.

Lauren’s therapist noted that ‘Lauren began to exhibit functional dynamic movements without prompting,’ and quickly became accustomed to her new position. 

Lauren also began to experiment with other more functional movements (below right).
 

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The Buying Process

Some products require an assessment to ensure they are clinically suitable for the individual. For further information and pricing please complete the enquiry form, call us on UK 0800 318 265 or ROI 1800 626 020 or contact your nearest dealer.

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