Mobility Management

  • Home
  • Topics
    • Automotive Mobility
    • Billing / Reimbursement
    • Government / Legislation
    • Home Accessibility
    • Pediatrics
    • Power Chairs
    • Seating & Positioning
    • Ultralightweights
  • News
  • Featured
  • Podcasts
  • Request Media Kit
  • Webinars
  • Subscribe
  • Digital Edition
  • Awards
  • Advertise

Mobility Management Podcast: Adopting a “Custom Sooner” Seating Mindset

September 6, 2023 by Laurie Watanabe

Custom seating has long been the go-to option for wheelchair riders with highly complex postures that couldn’t be accommodated by off-the-shelf products. But especially given new technology and manufacturing that drastically reduces its production timeline, should custom seating be considered for more riders?

Tom Hetzel, co-founder and CEO of Ride Designs, suggests that considering custom seating sooner could result in better outcomes for all stakeholders.

In the latest Mobility Management podcast, Hetzel said, “What I want to think about is changing the paradigm of how we consider custom [seating]. I think custom as a rule has been relegated to a last-ditch effort, not so much because that’s the right approach, but because of product limitations in the past.”

Instead, Hetzel contended, custom seating could be the best approach not just for those wheelchair riders who can’t be seated any other way, but also for riders when standard products fall short.

“The idea is identifying consistent and persistent postural challenges that cannot be satisfactorily addressed with simple, off-the-shelf products,” Hetzel said.

Listen to the episode and check out the rest of Mobility Management’s podcast center.

Related Articles Read More >

New NIH, CMS Partnership Aims to Build ‘Data Platform’ for Research on Chronic Conditions
Despite assurances that patient privacy will be protected, some health-care stakeholders are wary about data sharing.
MaRS, Toyota Mobility Foundation Call for Startups to Join Mobility Unlimited Hub in Toronto
The program provides funding, technical and marketing support to cohort members.
Reviewing RESNA’s Evacuation Standard: Performance Requirements, Installations, Inspections … and Why They Matter
The standard is open for comment till June 23.
Briefly: ‘Stronger Together’ Podcast Launches May 13; Parkinson’s Researchers Seeking Volunteers for Scratch-and-Sniff Test
Featuring United Spinal Association, M.A.R.C. Network, and the Michael J. Fox Foundation.

GET THE FREE NEWSLETTER

Mobility Management Newsletter

Subscribe to Mobility Management's newsletter for industry & product news, trends and resources. Click here.
podcasts
Mobility Management
  • HME Business
  • Senior Housing News
  • Home Health Care News
  • Skilled Nursing News
  • Hospice News
  • Behavioral Health Business
  • Contact Us
  • About Us

Copyright © 2025 WTWH Media LLC. All Rights Reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of WTWH Media
Privacy Policy | Advertising | About Us

Search Mobility Management

  • Home
  • Topics
    • Automotive Mobility
    • Billing / Reimbursement
    • Government / Legislation
    • Home Accessibility
    • Pediatrics
    • Power Chairs
    • Seating & Positioning
    • Ultralightweights
  • News
  • Featured
  • Podcasts
  • Request Media Kit
  • Webinars
  • Subscribe
  • Digital Edition
  • Awards
  • Advertise