ABSTRACT
Sitting is the most common posture adopted in daily living. At around 4 months of age, healthy infants achieve their first sitting experience and, by 7 months, a child gains stability and is able to sit unsupported in an upright posture (Knobloch and Pasamanick 1975). This position allows the child to explore the environment and progress in other areas of gross motor development. For children with neurological
Introduction ............................................................................................................ 155 Early Development of Special/Adaptive Seating ................................................... 158 Principles of Seating .............................................................................................. 158
Neuromotor Symptoms ..................................................................................... 159 Goals of Seating ................................................................................................ 160 Biomechanics of Body Support ........................................................................ 162
Seating Assessment ................................................................................................ 165 Seating Simulation ................................................................................................. 167 Design Considerations ........................................................................................... 167
Anthropometric Data ......................................................................................... 167 User Strength ..................................................................................................... 168 Seat Orientation ................................................................................................. 168 Management of the Body-Support Interface ..................................................... 169 Materials ............................................................................................................ 170
Types of Seating Systems ...................................................................................... 171 Adaptive Seating Systems ................................................................................. 171
Planar Seating Systems ................................................................................ 171 Modular Seating Systems ............................................................................. 172 Custom Contoured Seating Systems ............................................................ 174
CAD-CAM Seating ........................................................................................... 175 Dynamic Seating Systems ................................................................................. 176 The Shapeable Matrix Seating System ............................................................. 177
Service Delivery ..................................................................................................... 178 Outcome Measures ................................................................................................. 180 The Way Ahead ...................................................................................................... 181 Conclusion ............................................................................................................. 183 References .............................................................................................................. 183
deficits and musculoskeletal dysfunctions, proper sitting becomes challenging. Physical limitations including joint instability, muscle weakness and tonal abnormalities affect postural control and movement. These limitations also lead to many other secondary complications such as skeletal deformities, contractures, pressure ulcers and back pain (Pope 2002). The complications not only can impact sitting comfort, but may also affect the functional performance of the child, including his or her ability to communicate with others. Furthermore, severe skeletal deformities can affect cardiopulmonary function, which can be life threatening if not properly managed (Stewart 1991).
