Seating, Positioning, and Mobility

Table of Contents

Virtual Seating, Positioning, Mobility, and Vehicle Demonstration

For more information, please contact Amy Woods, Occupational Therapy Assistant, at amy.l.woods@okstate.edu or 405-744-7734.

Key Takeaways

What is Assistive Technology (AT) for Seating, Positioning, and Mobility?

  • The need for seating, positioning, and mobility devices is often medical in nature and typically customized to a patient by a healthcare provider.
  • Seating and positioning AT devices support or improve mobility and assist in postural support and pressure management.
  • Seating and positioning AT devices aid in head support, stability, and in the positioning of other devices.
  • Seating and positioning AT devices may also improve attention to task.
  • Mobility devices aid movement in space and over distance.

Common No-Tech and Low-Tech Seating, Positioning, and Mobility AT Solutions:

  • Ensure a person has access to all parts of the environment by arranging furniture to meet Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessibility standards.
  • Ensure seating/positioning is appropriate:
    • Feet resting on the floor
    • Knees flexed 90 degrees
    • Hips flexed 90 degrees
    • Hips back in chair
    • Shoulders relaxed
  • Be well-rested/conserve energy (extra time/breaks between tasks)
  • Remove carpet/rugs to prevent falls
  • Alternate seating positions with movement activities
  • Use an angled writing surface such as a binder or slant board to aid in writing ergonomics
  • Use positioning stabilizers (non-slip material, rolled towels, TheraBand, and cushions) to prevent slipping out of chairs
  • For lateral supports use a chair with arms

Who, When, and Where is AT for Seating, Positioning, and Mobility Appropriate?

  • This AT is appropriate for anyone who needs assistance achieving and/or maintaining a comfortable position that enables them to participate in daily activities.
  • This AT enables individuals to move independently in one’s environment.
  • Seating, positioning, and mobility AT may be needed in all environments.

Why is Seating, Positioning, and Mobility AT Important?

  • Reduces or eliminates the need for human assistance for daily activities
  • Minimizes the effects of abnormal muscle tone
  • Provides body stability
  • Lessens a person’s fatigue
  • Allows a person to transition from one environment to the next

Situations for Seating, Positioning, and Mobility AT:

School Environment

  • Sitting on the floor during circle time.
  • Working at a desk within the classroom
  • Entering/Exiting school rooms and buildings
  • Participating in recreation in the gym or on the playground
  • Eating lunch in the cafeteria
  • Performing in and transitioning during events/musicals
  • Activities of daily living in the restroom

Work Environment

  • Standing at a register or in a manufacture line
  • Working at a computer desk
  • Entering/Exiting work rooms and buildings
  • Eating and resting in the break room
  • Using an elevator
  • Working outdoors on various terrains

 Home Environment

  • Watching T.V.
  • Gaming with friends
  • Sitting on the patio
  • Eating family meals
  • Showering or bathing
  • Activities of daily living
  • Cooking meals
  • Entering/Exiting rooms and the home

Community

  • Attending outdoor/indoor venues
  • Playing at the park
  • Riding in a car
  • Shopping
  • Eating at a restaurant
  • Banking indoors
  • Transitioning to/from and in/out of the car
  • Playing at the splash pad/park
  • Maneuvering through the farmers’ market
  • Sitting at church
  • Navigating a movie theater and sitting

Case Studies

Education

Employment

Community Living


Commonly Asked Questions about Seating, Positioning, and Mobility AT:

  • Q – Who can help an individual match with appropriate seating, positioning, and mobility AT solutions?
    • A – Most seating, positioning, and mobility devices are specific to one person, it is best to consult a physical therapist, occupational therapist, or an AT seating specialist when determining the best AT.
  • Q – What is a neutral seating position?
    • A – A neutral seating position is when the body is aligned with no stress added to the body structure. Knees should be kept at a ninety-degree angle position, hands, arms and wrists are in line and parallel to the floor, feet rest completely on the floor (unless a footrest is used), the head faces forward, elbows are kept close to the body and bent at an angle of ninety to one hundred and twenty degrees, the back is supported by a lumbar cushion, and thighs and hips rest comfortably on a padded seat parallel to the floor.
  • Q – Why is proper posture and positioning so important?
    • A – Poor posture can cause numerous problems such as difficulty breathing, problems swallowing, poor digestion, urinary tract issues, decreased upper extremity use, poor balance, and safety risks.
  • Q – What are some questions to consider when deciding on a type of seating, positioning, and mobility AT device?
    • Can the device be used to navigate typical environments?
    • Is more than one kind of device needed to get around typical environments?
    • Where will the device(s) be used?
    • Does the condition vary from day to day requiring needed devices to change?
    • How will the device be obtained?
    • What abilities and limitations need to be considered?
    • Is the mobility device comfortable when using?
    • Does the device safely meet seating, positioning, and mobility needs?


  AT Solutions at Oklahoma ABLE Tech:

Visit Oklahoma ABLE Tech’s Seating, Positioning, and Mobility AT Inventory

Visit Oklahoma ABLE Tech’s Seating, Positioning and Mobility AT/DME Reuse/Exchange Inventory 

Helpful Links and PDF Resources:

Guides and Articles:

Video/Webinar/Podcast Resources:

  • Podcast: Mobility Management

    Stakeholders share their insight, predictions, and hopes for complex rehabilitation technology (CRT)
  • Webinar: Dynamic Seating

    This course looks at product options and discusses clinical indicators and contra-indicators for dynamic seating components
  • Webinar: AT 101

    How do I know if the student is positioned adequately in their mobility base?