Adaptive seating for cerebral palsy – Keep your independence by using adaptive chairs

The concept of adaptive seating for those who have cerebral palsy has become increasingly important in recent years. Adaptive seating helps individuals manage their mobility and posture while providing comfort and support. The main objectives of adaptive seats are to reduce muscle contractures, promote general comfort and function, and improve breathing and digestion. These adjustable seats are designed to be functional in a variety of day-to-day environments such as homes, schools and workplaces. 

Adaptive seating is used to support, position, and assist individuals with physical disabilities, such as cerebral paralysis, spinal cord injury, and other ailments that limit mobility and function. Adaptive seats can be easily adjusted and customized to meet a person’s individual needs. They may include accessories such as leg supports, footrests or other supports to enable someone to sit comfortably. These seats can have straps, harnesses, and other safety mechanisms to help keep the user firmly in place.

Adaptive seating can make all the difference in helping individuals with cerebral palsy live more independently and comfortably. These seats are usually recommended by a doctor or therapist and are made to fit the person’s unique needs.

Cerebral palsy is a neurological disorder that affects the control of postural muscles, resulting in impairments in movement and coordination. It is typically diagnosed in infancy or early childhood and can affect upper extremity functions. Adaptive seating devices are used to help children with cerebral palsy achieve better posture control while improving comfort levels and increasing safety. These adaptive seating systems are designed to help support an individual’s body weight, and they promote correct posture and minimize fatigue.

The goal of an adaptive seating is to improve posture control while providing comfort during daily activities such as eating, writing, reading, playing video games, or participating in social interactions. The use of adjustable components allows caregivers to make changes quickly so that the individual’s needs are met throughout the day. An effective adaptive seating system should provide adequate support for an individual’s body weight without causing discomfort or hindering upper extremity function. Properly fitted seat components ensure the user maintains the ideal posture to maximize function throughout all daily activities while minimizing fatigue and discomfort.

Here’s how adaptive seating can help someone with cerebral palsy:

Adaptive seating has several advantages that can make a difference in the life of a person living with cerebral palsy.

1. Adaptive seating helps to maintain optimal alignment of the head, trunk, and limbs, which can lessen muscular contractures and enhance posture overall.
2. Adaptive seating increases comfort by offering extra support and cushioning which can help lessen pressure points.
3. Proper seating has been shown  to improve breathing and digestion.
4. Adaptive seating can  make it easier for people to engage in activities such as eating, reading, and using a computer.
5. Some adaptive seats have straps and other restraints systems that keep the user firmly in place. This reduces the chance of a user falling or having an accident.
6. Adaptive seating allows people with cerebral palsy to be more active, participate in different activities and maintain better posture and function.
7. Caregivers can move and position patients more easily with adaptive seating, reducing the physical strain and effort involved in caring for the patient.

Adaptive seating for cerebral palsy is specialized equipment designed to meet the unique needs of individuals by using postural alignment, saddle seats, seat inclinations, and inclination of the seat surface. Purchasing adaptive seating can provide a range of benefits for individuals with cerebral palsy, including improved posture and alignment, increased comfort, enhanced functional movement capacity, increased safety, improved participation in activities, and a reduced burden on caregivers. It can be highly effective in addressing the needs of individuals with cerebral palsy, playing a vital role in improving quality of life by enabling more functional activity.

When selecting the right adaptive seating for children with cerebral palsy, there are a few things you should keep in mind before buying a chair:

1. Consider the type of cerebral palsy your child has, because each type impacts the seating needs of children differently.
2. Assess the severity of your child’s cerebral palsy. This can affect their needs, such as the amount of postural control support they require. 
3. Pressure mapping is another primary selection criteria for adaptive seating. This method is employed to assess how the body is being compressed when seated. To ensure that the person is supported and comfortable in the appropriate posture, it is helpful to detect areas of high pressure and modify the seat accordingly.
4. Another factor to take into account is the size and the age of your child. Size has an impact on the seat design for your child’s chair. It is important to know their height and weight to ensure the adaptive seating is appropriate for your child.
5. Another factor to consider is your child’s daily activity level. If they are very active, they may need a seat that is appropriate and convenient for allowing greater movement.

Our chairs for children living with disabilities foster an inclusive environment that focuses on empowering children in their daily lives. They help children with mobility limitations actively participate in a range of activities at home and school. Adaptive seating can increase the activity level and performance of children with cerebral palsy by offering an optimal seat that is tailored for upper-extremity function. Instead of being confined to one desk at school or being faced with repeatedly asking for help, it increases a child’s ability to function so they can operate their chairs by themselves and move them around anywhere they wish.

We have more than 50 years of experience developing and manufacturing adaptive chairs and seating chairs for children with cerebral palsy. Our adaptive chairs are customized with options and accessories to meet your needs.

Our adult adaptive seating chair is a highly functional and ergonomic lift chair designed to meet the needs of those with limited mobility. This chair improves users’ quality of life by providing the support and assistance required to perform tasks and improve skills that were previously difficult or impossible for them to complete on their own. The chair is powered, allowing for simple modifications to the seat’s height and location. It helps the user reach different areas, sit at eye level with others, and always be in a comfortable sitting or standing position.

This adaptive seating device can help users perform tasks, prepare meals, and engage in other upper-extremity functions that were previously challenging or impossible to perform without assistance. The chairs are designed to be used in a variety of contexts, including at home. This increases users’ independence and improves social interactions. The chair is simple to use and move, featuring controls under the armrest or on the remote control. Large ball-bearing wheels make rolling the chair smooth and easy. The chair’s compact frame fits through most doorways and corridors, making it simple to move from room to room.

The REAL Adult Mobility Chair is designed to help users remain in an upright position, making it the perfect chair for adults living with disabilities. It enables users to do more, and to complete a range of activities independently and safely for longer periods of time by offering extra external support even when seated in an upright posture position. The chair is the ideal solution for individuals with mobility challenges, providing support for functional ability and offering the assistance required to maintain a high level of independence, safety and comfort.