Which Measurements Are Toughest to Get?
So many equipment decisions are based upon the physical measurements taken during a client’s seating assessment. While all the measurements taken are important to a good outcome, we asked our clinical contributors which measurements they thought were most difficult to accurately obtain.
- Megan Kutch: “The exact seat depth measurement is the most difficult because you need to factor in what type of back cushion you are using. Another difficult measurement would be the knee-to-heel because you have to account for the overall height of the cushion you are providing your client.”
- Robin Skolsky: “When there is swelling, edema, external bracing or other ‘temporary’ changes, measurements can be skewed. Depending upon the funding source, the time between eval and equipment order can be several weeks or even, unfortunately, months. If these concerns are present at evaluation, it is recommended that a client is re-measured prior to the chair being placed on order to ensure the appropriate size is ordered. If a client is pregnant or expecting to become pregnant, this can be another challenge that may or may not be able to be accommodated in one’s custom equipment.”
- Mario Ouellette: “If a person suffers from a severe kyphotic deformity, it’s more difficult to take the trochanter measurements and armpit measurements. In some cases, weakening of the musculoskeletal system, such as in the case of severe muscular dystrophy, can make the measurements harder to execute.”
This article originally appeared in the March 2014 issue of Mobility Management.