Michelle Lange, OTR/L, ABDA, ATP/SMS

Cary Yarbrough, ATP, works with Action Seating and Mobility in Sherwood, AK. He has been working with dynamic seating for many years, having mainly recommended the Kids Rock wheelchair in the past. When this was discontinued, he set out to find other options. Cary’s number one goal at the 2017 International Seating Symposium was to find Dynamic Seating – and he did at the Seating Dynamics booth.

I had a great conversation with Cary by phone and asked him a few questions.

Cary Yarbrough of Action Seating and Mobility in Sherwood, AK

What differences have you noticed between the Kids Rock and Seating Dynamics components?

“As my clients grew, the larger Kids Rock frame was just too wide. Using Seating Dynamics components allows me to use a more appropriate size (width) chair. That works well for the taller, thin kids I work with. Also, I can choose the best frame and give the clients more options such as the frame style, seating, and color.

I order primarily dynamic footrests that telescope and elevate. The Kids Rock footplate only elevated – it didn’t telescope (lengthen). I think the telescoping takes the lever arm away and I notice less back movement than in the Kids Rock.”

Is less back movement an advantage?

“I’m torn on that. The Kids Rock research showed that both high and low tone was normalized (using the Kids Rock dynamic seating). I think that by more movement occurring at the knees and less at the hips, this may preserve seated posture more (reducing sheer and preventing the pelvis from sliding into a posterior tilt). Some parents are (initially) concerned that the back is not moving as much as it did (on the Kids Rock). After they see that the extension is reduced, they are generally fine with it.”

Who are you using Dynamic Seating with?

“I am mostly using Dynamic Seating with children who have spastic cerebral palsy or traumatic brain injury. About 90% of my clients are pediatric.”

How are caregivers responding to Dynamic Seating?

“I would say that 99% love it! Kids, prior to their dynamic seating, would scream when someone carried them to their wheelchair. Now they can move and tolerate the wheelchair. Caregivers really like that.”

Keep up the great work, Cary! I hope we all are inspired to continue helping our clients to move!