Fighting gravity: Assessing and understanding the impact of postural asymmetries in seating and whee
Presenter(s)
Sheila Buck, OT Reg. (Ont.)
Seating and mobility assessments are a critical part of all aspects of facilitating participation in occupations of life for those that have limitations in independent mobility (e.g., Gallagher et al., 2022; World Health Organization, 2023). To complete a seating and mobility prescription, therapists must be aware of physical, perceptual, visual, psychosocial, and emotional impacts on the client's mobility and seated posture, as well as consider their context and needs. Occupational therapists provide a critical component in the assessment and provision of assistive technology. An integral part of this assessment is a physical MAT assessment, which requires a hands-on assessment of the client to determine joint range of motion for a functional seated posture. To justify equipment prescriptions to third party payors as well as the client themselves, occupational therapists need to understand posture (normal posture and deviations from normal), as well as the theory and physics behind the use and provision of assistive technology to ensure no harm is done to the client (World Health Organization, 2022). Please note: Each participant is responsible to ensure they apply the information within the context of their licensure, provincial/territorial legislations, institution regulations, scope of practice, etc.
This online workshop will provide an overview of key considerations of assessing and understanding the impact of postural asymmetries to prepare an equipment prescription for clients of any age. The prerecorded lectures will review anatomy landmarking critical for assessing seated posture, as well as MAT assessment techniques to determine range of motion, and resultant reducible or non-reducible postures. Components of the MAT assessment, including the pelvis, trunk, hip, knee, foot, and thigh, will be explored with consideration to how they affect postural outcomes for head positioning in midline. Typical asymmetries of the pelvis and spine found in the seated position will be explored and reviewed with an understanding of how these asymmetries and gravitational factors can negatively affect head positioning through fatigue and pain. Participants will then apply the information learned to case studies with the goal of being ability to complete a thorough and justifiable wheeled mobility and seating prescription based on the assessment data gathered. By the end of this workshop, you will be able to: Understand the importance of completing a MAT Assessment. Recognize the impact of asymmetrical posture on all aspects of seating/wheeled mobility and body function. Recognize forces related to three-point positioning. Identify pelvic landmarks related to seated posture. Apply MAT assessment findings to simulation of corrected or accommodated posture recognize non reducible asymmetrical postures
Workshop level: Beginner (0-2 years of experience in this area of practice) Please note: Participants with more than this stated level of experience are welcome to attend the workshop. The workshop content will be geared towards those with 0-2 years of experience in this area of practice.