Comparison of two pelvic positioning belt configurations in a pediatric wheelchair.

Maintenance of stability for children in a wheelchair, particularly for those with spasticity, can be achieved through external stabilization components, such as pelvic positioning belts. Different kinds of pelvic belts exist on the market and one of the main characteristics is the different number of attachment points between the seat and the belt. As literature on this topic is limited to qualitative assessments, this study compared quantitatively 4-point versus 2-point pelvic positioning belts for the trunk fixation in 20 young patients with spasticity. Our data showed that 70% of the children required the use of pelvic belts on wheelchairs for stability and a better stability was observed with the 4-point belts than compared to the 2-point. Data generally showed in fact a higher percent of variation in terms of trunk flexion angleand knee joint angle with the 2-point belt than the 4-point belt, indicating increased submarining with the 2-point belt during sitting maintenance if compared to the 4-point belt (p < 0.05). According to our results, the 4-point belts seem to be the most effective configuration for patient stabilization, suggesting that its use prevents the thigh from submarining.

Rehabilitation and Aids during the Developing Years in Italy / 中国康复理论与实践

The rehabilitation of children with disabilities should be initiated as early as possible,as soon as problems or disorders are diagnosed in the development,to prevent or promptly counteract the consolidation of disability.In Italy the institutes involved in the rehabilitation of children with serious disability must be by law highly specialized.The devices have a key part in rehabilitation courses in developmental age.They are often planned and designed in the same rehabilitation center.La Nostra Famiglia has been in Italy one of the first specialized rehabilitation centers for children and adolescents.By La Nostra Famiglia have been designed aids for children which later became a model throughout Europe.Our National Health System provides free aids for children and adolescents and describes in detail the characteristics of great adaptability that aids for children and adolescents should have.The pressure mapping allows you to test the effects of adapted aids versus aids not properly adapted to the size and needs.

3D-Quantitative evaluation of a rigid seating system and dynamic seating system using 3D movement analysis in individuals with dystonic tetraparesis.

To improve postural stability in individuals with dystonic cerebral palsy, the concept of a dynamic seat has been suggested as a potential solution. An experimental set-up for the acquisition of movement during extensor thrusts while sitting on a seating system was defined and applied on a group of dystonic individuals, to compare a dynamic versus a rigid seat system, using quantitative movement analysis. The seating system in dynamic configuration is able to reduce the extensor thrust experienced by the consumers, as well as to increase range of motion in the anterior-posterior direction, limiting the sliding down of trunk and showing better upper limb smoothness during extensor thrusts. The procedures used in this study appear to provide a useful tool for better understanding how the concept of a dynamic back in a seat system may affect and influence position and stability of individuals with dystonia on the seat system.