SEATING & POSITIONING

In my opinion seating and positioning is more important than the mobility base that is selected.  Too many times the base is picked first, because of appearance, or other reason.  Choosing a base first, can limit the seating options available for a client.  When our company does assessments (or assists), we usually determine the seating needs before selecting the base.  

Seating cushions can be categorized under four types:

PLANAR SEATING: This type of cushion, or back is made of a wood or plastic base (usually wood), where holes and T-nuts are inserted to allow for adjustability.  Foam is glued to the wood, and a cover is sewn or zippered on.  This type of seating is very useful for applications where a client is still growing.  Planar seating can be very adjustable in accommodating for seat depth, but does limit the ability for reducing pressure. 

CONTOURED SEATING: This is usually a better choice, as pressure is directly related to surface area contact.  The more surface area that is supported, the less pressure in any one area.  These cushions can be found in standard configurations.  There are some customizations that can be done to make these cushion work for many applications.

FOAM IN PLACE: This type of seating is for an individual who needs more than off the shelf seating can provide.  For people who have moderate to severe deformity or need a wide support lateral support this type of seating may be appropriate.  The foam in place process is done, by mixing chemicals (liquid) to produce foam.  The liquid is placed between patient, and the back support.  Within five minutes a custom back support can be made. 

CUSTOM CONTOURED: This type of seating is very specialized, and only a finite number of companies are certified to mold these systems.  These systems usually involve a seating simulator with a big bean bag, that is moved around to provide a desired seating surface.  The mold is then plastered and sent to a manufacturer to covert the shape to a cushion.