Page 28 - Mobility Management, July/August 2021

ATP Series
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IFyou’ve worked in Complex Rehab Technology long enough that custom-molded seating summons memories of plaster and tarps — or even if you’ve just heard colleagues talk about those days —
4 REASONS TO LOVE
you may think there’s little to love about it.
But custom-molded seating has significantly evolved over the years... and maybe has been a
bit misunderstood from the start.
“This is so near and dear to my heart,” said
MOLDED
industry veteran Stefanie Laurence, BScOT, OT Reg., Clinical Educator at Motion (formerly Motion Specialties). “This is my favorite topic. I love custom seating. It’s my passion. I’ve seen so many changes over the years, and I’m amazed at the results that we can get.”
And that’s just one reason to embrace custom- molded seating.
SEATING
Custom Seating Can Help a Wide Range of Clients
Creating a custom mold can sound like a strategy to reserve for the most complex clients. But in reality, it can be a great solution for a much larger group of wheelchair users.
Asked when custom-molded seating should be considered for clients, Mark Bisson, Product Manager of Manual Mobility & Seating for PinDot custom-molded seating from Invacare Corp., said, “Is off-the-shelf seating solution sufficient, and will it satisfy what they need? If not, the team needs to ask ourselves, what are we trying to accomplish, what are the goals and specific objec- tives for the end user?”
Sam Hannah, ATP, CEO of Symmetric Designs, said custom- molded seating “should be considered for clients with complex postural needs that might include scoliosis, kyphosis, lordosis and other shapes needing specific support or off-loading. Custom seating can ensure a well-supported posture for young growing clients, especially those with poor trunk control, to ensure
they grow into a more functional and stable seated position. In addition to considering their existing postural support needs, custom seating should take into account the client’s level of
U
CUSTOM-
By Laurie Watanabe Curve Illustration by Istockphoto.com/Luxcor