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Dependent Mobility

Dependent Mobility
Michelle Lange, OTR, ABDA, ATP/SMS
September 17, 2015
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Learning Objectives

  • The participant will be able to describe clinical indicators for adaptive strollers.
  • The participant will be able to describe clinical indicators for transport or standard manual wheelchairs.
  • The participant will be able to describe clinical indicators for a manual tilt in space wheelchair.

Introduction

Why would someone need these particular devices?  In the case of strollers, these are available in very small sizes to accommodate our very smallest clients.  Some of our clients only need a mobility base for transport use only, such as getting from the car into the doctor’s office.  Once in the doctor's office, the client may transfer to a waiting room chair and truly uses this device only for transportation.  It might be the client only requires a manual wheelchair temporarily, such as when visiting Disneyland, and they are going to rent a dependent mobility base while there.  It also might be that the client has an inability to self-propel a manual wheelchair and the dependent mobility base is a backup to a power chair. In this case, the power wheelchair is providing independent mobility while the dependent mobility base backs that up.  The client’s power wheelchair may not be operational, the accessible vehicle used to transport that power wheelchair may not be working, or the destination that this client and caregiver are going to is not accessible.  In these cases, the power chair may be left at home and the dependent mobility base is used.  Some clients cannot use a power wheelchair and are unable to self-propel a manual chair, so they use simply a dependent mobility base. 

One of our main goals in using some form of dependent mobility base includes dependent transport.  It is important that we can get a client from one area to another, whether it is an area within the home, an area in the community, getting between appointments, etc.  

A mobility base also always supports some type of seating system.  It is important to choose a mobility base that can support the seating system that best meets the client’s needs.  Part of the job of the seating system is to prevent any sort of pressure ulcer development and to provide adequate postural support for the client.  This is part of the job of the seating system and as a result, the mobility base as well. 

Finally, dependent mobility also can provide fatigue management for the client.  This is particularly pertinent to tilt in space chairs by providing that tilt and change in position, and this can be accomplished sometimes with recline as well.  We can help to compensate for someone's fatigue by providing more reclined or tilted position.  That tilt or recline position also can help with postural management and pressure ulcer prevention, in addition to working with the wheelchair seating system. 


michelle lange

Michelle Lange, OTR, ABDA, ATP/SMS

Michelle is an occupational therapist with 25 years of experience and former Clinical Director of The Assistive Technology Clinics of The Children’s Hospital of Denver. She is a well-respected lecturer, both nationally and internationally and has authored 7 book chapters and over 175 articles. She is the editor of Fundamentals in Assistive Technology, 4th ed. Michelle is on the teaching faculty of RESNA and the University of Pittsburgh. She is on the RERC on Wheeled Mobility Advisory Board. Michelle is a credentialed ATP, credentialed SMS and is a Senior Disability Analyst of the ABDA.



Related Courses

Sensory Technologies: Preparing for the ATP Exam
Presented by Michelle Lange, OTR, ABDA, ATP/SMS
Recorded Webinar
Course: #2630Level: Introductory1 Hour
The RESNA Assistive Technology Professional certification examination includes questions from a variety of content areas. One of those areas is Sensory Technologies. This module will cover the content area including technologies for people who are hard of hearing, deaf, have low vision, are blind or who are deaf blind.

A New Era: From EADLs to Alexa!
Presented by Michelle Lange, OTR, ABDA, ATP/SMS
Recorded Webinar
Course: #3699Level: Intermediate1 Hour
Electronic Aids to Daily Living provide an alternative means of controlling devices, primarily within the home environment, including audiovisual equipment, lighting, and thermostats. Advances in consumer home automation technologies have opened new control opportunities for people with disabilities. This course is directly related to the practice of physical therapy and is therefore appropriate for the PT/PTA.

Dynamic Seating
Presented by Michelle Lange, OTR, ABDA, ATP/SMS
Recorded Webinar
Course: #3093Level: Intermediate1 Hour
Dynamic seating has four primary functions – to allow movement, to diffuse force, to protect the client, and to protect the seating system and mounting hardware. This course will take a look at the product options, discuss clinical indicators and contra-indicators for dynamic components and present case studies to illustrate these points.

Positioning the Head
Presented by Michelle Lange, OTR, ABDA, ATP/SMS
Recorded Webinar
Course: #3098Level: Intermediate2 Hours
This course will discuss various strategies to optimize head position. First, we will explore strategies beyond the head support, including specific positioning interventions and addressing visual issues. Second, we will explore posterior head supports in depth, matching specific features to client needs. Third, we will explore other options which may be required if posterior support alone is inadequate, including anterior head support.

Positioning the Pelvis
Presented by Michelle Lange, OTR, ABDA, ATP/SMS
Recorded Webinar
Course: #3157Level: Intermediate1 Hour
The position of the pelvis very much determines the position of the trunk and lower extremities and so achieving and maintaining the optimal position is critical. This course will present common pelvic asymmetries with suggested strategies to address each challenge. Providing as neutral a pelvic position as possible improves overall posture, stability and function.

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