Module 7:
Postural interventions

Aim

This module explores posture in seating and wheeled mobility system for people with spinal cord injury, and offers principles for postural intervention.

Rationale

Achieving a good posture is one of the goals of seating. A good posture is important to the client’s long term health status and is interrelated with the other three goals of seating: pressure management, functional capability and comfort.

“Seating for task performance is not a single position, but rather an active repertoire of seated postures that the body requires in order for the mind to think, the eyes to read, and the arms to work.” ¹

Outcomes

At the end of this module, you will be able to:

• Understand the importance of posture for clients with a spinal cord injury
• Recognise the indicators for postural intervention in the seating and wheeled mobility system
• Identify posture related issues in seating and wheeled mobility
• Set postural goals in seating and wheeled mobility
• Understand key principles of postural interventions in seating and wheeled mobility system
• Access resources on possible solutions to posture and positioning issues, and
• Formulate a trial with a client.

In this module

• The importance of posture for SCI clients
• Keeping the big picture in mind
• Be systematic: Identifying postural issues
  • Medical diagnosis
  • Surgical history
  • Pressure injuries: history and management
  • Spasm
  • Pain
  • Weight gain or loss
  • Vision
  • Range of motion, joint flexibility and influence of gravity
  • Functional skills and dynamic sitting
  • Seating system limitations
  • Environment
  • Psychosocial and care issues
• Recognise key relationships between the client and the wheelchair
  • Setting postural goals
  • Keys to postural intervention
• Work as a team
• Formulate trials
• Persevere!!
• Key concepts in this module
• Case Study: Katherine
  • Case study questions
  • Case study answers

References