Wheelchair Seating: Secondary Supports (Recorded Webinar)
Presented by Michelle L. Lange
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This course is a recording of a previously hosted live webinar event. Polling and question submission features are not available for this recording. Format and structure may differ from those of standard Medbridge courses.
Wheelchair seating systems typically include a seat and back surface, often with lateral trunk supports for added stability. But what about secondary supports? Pelvic belts, anterior trunk supports, and ankle straps are sometimes misunderstood and seen as restricting movement rather than enhancing function.
In this insightful webinar, we’ll dive into the clinical applications of secondary supports, addressing common concerns about restraints while ensuring optimal positioning and mobility. Through real-world case studies, we’ll explore best practices for integrating these supports effectively and navigating team discussions when restraint concerns arise. Join us for an in-depth look at how secondary supports can empower, rather than limit, wheelchair users.
Learning Objectives
- Analyze the role of secondary supports within wheelchair seating systems and their impact on postural control and functional mobility
- Determine appropriate secondary support interventions for the pelvis, trunk, and lower extremities based on individual client needs and clinical indicators
- Integrate evidence-based secondary support strategies into wheelchair seating interventions to enhance occupational performance in activities of daily living (ADLs) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs)
- Correlate secondary support use with ethical and regulatory considerations, including restraint concerns and best practices for interdisciplinary collaboration
Meet your instructor
Michelle L. Lange
Michelle Lange is an occupational therapist with more than 38 years of experience. She has been in private practice at Access to Independence for more than 19 years. She is a well-respected lecturer, both nationally and internationally, and has authored numerous texts, chapters, and articles. She is the coeditor of Seating…
Chapters & learning objectives
1. Secondary Supports: Anterior Pelvis
This chapter will review pelvic positioning belts and their features, including mounting angle, two-point vs. four-point, width of belt, padding, buckles, and direction of pull, as well as their clinical applications.
2. Secondary Supports: Anterior Trunk
This chapter will review anterior trunk supports, including chest straps, shoulder straps, shoulder retractors, vests, and abdominal supports, as well as their features and clinical applications.
3. Secondary Supports: The Legs and Feet
This chapter will review leg and foot supports, including calf straps/pads, strapping in front of the lower legs, strapping over the feet, and circumferential support, as well as their features and clinical applications.
4. Question and Answer Session
This chapter is a viewer-submitted question and answer session facilitated by Michelle Lange.