CONTOURED FOAM SEATING AND EQUIPMENT ADAPTATION AND DEEP PIN DOT SYSTEMS

Among the inexpensive and very useful low tech systems which we have used at our Center over the past 15 years, is custom contoured 4 inch medium density polyfoam seating inserts. High chairs, strollers, wheelchairs, swing seats, wagons, and classroom seats are some of the variety of situations that have succumbed to foam and a standard electric carving knife. In addition, comfortable custom contoured long-sitters, sidelyers, pronelyers are easily fabricated using multiple layers of foam glued together. The equipment is light weight and easily transportable for parents. See Example

Like the other systems, the foam is cut to provide maximum total contact support in a midline shoulder, trunk and hip orientation. The softness of the foam permits some movement, but tends to rebound back to a more centered position. In this way, even children with very low or very high postural tone are softly supported in a position that allows them opportunity to explore contained movement control around a controlled mid-position. They tend to become more active in exploring the limits of this soft control and this often happens within a few minutes. As active control improves, the amount of support is gradually lowered with emphasis on maintaining a stable base of support until the child can actively maintain this by themselves. In this way, we have seen many children discover and practice balance and postural strategies which helped them achieve functional independence in sitting. In other children, where such control is not possible, a more dynamically stable base allows more possibilities for active head, upper body and arm control.

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Copyright © 1997 - Nancy Hylton, P.T