Seating & Positioning

Amylior — the Canadian manufacturer and distributor of complex power wheelchairs, power seating, wheelchair seat cushions, and standing/walking aids — has hired its first direct sales representative for the United States. In a July 1 social media post, Amylior welcomed Robert McLean, ATP/SMS, saying, “He will be covering our full product line,” including Alltrack power…

Kalogon has launched a 3D-printed custom back support designed to complement the company’s Orbiter Med wheelchair seat cushion. The Bondar back is “designed for people who need additional postural correction or support from their wheelchairs,” Kalogon said in a June 17 press release. The company used clinical feedback to design the new back support, which…

Kalogon, manufacturer of smart seating systems, has expanded into the Australian market via a new partnership with Paragon Mobility, a Complex Rehab Technology provider in Queensland. The agreement calls for Paragon Mobility to exclusively distribute Kalogon’s Booster system, an external controller that helps wheelchair riders to maintain optimal pressure levels in their single-cell air flotation…

Perhaps the most significant misconception that bariatric mobility clients — and their seating teams — must face is the misconception that higher body weights simply require wheelchairs with higher weight capacities and wider seats. A second misconception: Seating clients with body weights in the bariatric range are all similar to each other, and their weight…

AltimateMedical and Therafin Corp. have announced a “strategic partnership,” with the new agreement closing on March 31. In an April 4 press release, AltimateMedical welcomed Therafin President Todd Fink and Therafin team members. “This partnership combines the strengths of both companies, significantly expanding their collective product offerings and creating opportunities to enhance product innovation and…

The Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA) has published two position papers. The first — “RESNA Position on Assistive Technology for Lying Posture Care Management (LPCM)” — is a new paper on the importance of postural support in the lying orientation as “a key element of 24-hour posture care management which…

A successful wheeled mobility intervention is the culmination of dozens of measurements and the optimal combination of hundreds of components, all brought together in precisely the best way. Of all the numbers to come out of a seating evaluation, seat-to-floor measurements might seem among the most basic — merely the inches or centimeters from the…

Creating optimal seat-to-floor height depends on many factors, including knowing which measurements are most important. “Popliteal to heel is a crucial anatomical measurement for determining seat-to-floor height (to ensure adequate ground clearance) while considering how much knee flexion will be incorporated while seated,” said Jessica Presperin Pedersen, OTD, MBA, OTR/L, ATP/SMS, North American director of…

Alexis Ward Departs from AAHomecare Longtime Complex Rehab Technology (CRT) advocate and policy expert Alexis Ward has announced she’s departing the American Association for Homecare (AAHomecare). Ward had served as AAHomecare’s senior director of payer relations. In a Dec. 18 email to colleagues, Ward said, “It has been an honor and privilege to work alongside…

Optimal positioning impacts so many activities of daily living, from efficiently propelling a manual wheelchair to accessing the power seating functions of a power chair. This year’s Handbook discusses seating and positioning for both manual and power wheelchair riders. — Determining seat-to-floor height: Taking accurate measurements, understanding seat-to-floor impact on daily activities, and prioritizing functional…