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A Need to Move While Sitting: Why Not All Wheelchairs Work for People with Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral Palsy (CP) is a lifelong disability caused by injury to the developing brain, affecting nearly one million people in the US ¹. CP affects movement, muscle tone, and coordination, and about 40-50% of people with CP use a manual or power wheelchair to get around ¹. Some people with CP experience strong, sudden muscle movements that cause parts of their bodies, like their head, legs, or torso, to move with extreme force. Others make repetitive motions, such as rocking back and forth while sitting ². Unfortunately, most wheelchair seating systems are not designed to adjust to these types of movements. As a result, the individual’s powerful movements can cause injuries, pain, or even damage to their wheelchairs ³.

What is Dynamic Seating?

Dynamic Seating (DS) is an underused technology that many people don’t know about. It is a helpful feature that allows the wheelchair seat to move with the person. For example, when someone sitting in a wheelchair moves parts of their body suddenly or with significant force, the DS equipment moves with them to absorb the force and reduce the impact. Then, when the person’s body relaxes, the DS equipment helps them return to their original position. DS is frequently used to prevent injury to the person sitting in the wheelchair, reduce the chances of breaking their equipment, and help them stay in a good position while also allowing them to move when they need or want to move. Below is an example of DS equipment in action, featuring a dynamic head support, a dynamic back support, and a dynamic leg/foot support by Seating Dynamics.

A New Research Study

Currently, Dynamic Seating (DS) is not well known, and this technology is underused in the U.S. and only available in a few other countries. To help change this, researchers at CIDE are doing a study to learn more about DS and those who use this technology. Dr. Becky Breaux is leading this study along with support from Sarah Walker, senior research assistant, and Michelle Lange (occupational therapist and expert in dynamic seating technologies). The study is called “Innovative Technologies for People with Cerebral Palsy: A Study of Dynamic Wheelchair Seating and User Perceptions.” It is supported by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR, grant number 90SFGE0077).

The goal of this research is to learn from people with cerebral palsy who use DS, as well as from their caregivers. We are creating an online survey that will be shared with DS users in the U.S., Canada, Australia, and Ireland. The survey results will help us understand who uses DS, how they use it, and how it affects their health and daily life. Some people who complete the survey may also be invited to do a follow-up interview to gain deeper insight into their personal experiences before and after using DS equipment.

The Importance of this Research

The information gathered from the survey and interviews will guide wheelchair users, health professionals, and policy makers in understanding DS. It will also help those who decide whether insurance should cover this technology. Because the study collects experiences directly from DS users and their caregivers, it will show how DS affects their health, participation, and daily life. Overall, the study aims to increase awareness of DS so that people with cerebral palsy, health care providers, and policy makers can make informed decisions about who may benefit from it.