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What is Muscle Tone?
If a client has increased muscle tone, this will impact what seated position is selected and what seating strategies will be used to achieve and maintain this position.
Dynamic Seating for People with Increased Muscle Tone
This blog is the final in a series on Muscle Tone. This series has addressed muscle tone itself, movement disorders, primitive reflexes, diagnoses characterized by increased muscle tone, tone management, and general wheelchair seating strategies used with this population.
What are Primitive Reflexes?
Primitive Reflexes, also called obligatory patterns, are commonly seen in people with increased muscle tone. These reflexes are present in infancy and often aid in specific tasks such as nursing.
Tone Management and Medical Interventions to Decrease Muscle Tone
This blog is part 5 of a series on Muscle Tone. Many medical interventions can impact wheelchair positioning for clients with increased muscle tone. This includes tone reduction medications, injections, surgeries, and orthotics.
General Seating Strategies used with People who have Increased Muscle Tone
This blog is part 6 of a series on Muscle Tone. In this blog, we will discuss general wheelchair seating strategies commonly used when working with someone who has increased muscle tone.
Diagnoses Characterized by Increased Muscle Tone
This blog is part 4 of a series on Muscle Tone. Many diagnoses are characterized by increased muscle tone. These include cerebral palsy (CP), traumatic brain injury (TBI), multiple sclerosis (MS), and some metabolic and genetic disorders.
What are Movement Disorders?
This is the second blog in a series on muscle tone and positioning. Many people with increased muscle tone also demonstrate various movement disorders. Let’s take a look.
Why Movement Helps People With Brain Injuries
“Jackson” (named has been changed) was in a car accident when he was only 6 years old and sustained a significant brain injury. As a result, he was unable to move himself, communicate with others, or control anything in his environment. He has been using various mobility bases since that time.
Dynamic Seating for People with Cerebral Palsy
Dynamic Seating is movement which occurs within the seat and/or wheelchair frame in response to force from the client. Dynamic components absorb force which in turn assists the client back to a starting position. Dynamic Seating is frequently used to prevent equipment breakage, prevent client injury, diffuse extensor tone, and provide movement. For people with cerebral palsy who use a wheelchair, Dynamic Seating is a great option for many reasons.
Dynamic Seating for People with Huntington’s Disease
Oftentimes people ask me who is appropriate for use of Dynamic Seating. Many people can benefit from this technology. One group of people for whom Dynamic Seating is particularly helpful are those with Huntington’s Disease.
