Your Therapy Source Magazine for Pediatric Therapists October 2015 | Page 7

Comparing Seating Systems

Pediatric Physical Therapy published a single case study comparing physiological
functioning, communication switch activation, and response accuracy in a 19-year-old young
man with quadriplegic cerebral palsy and neurological scoliosis using 2 seating systems
within the school setting. A alternating treatment design was used recording data from the
following conditions: baseline (standard planar inserts), using a custom molded back with
original seat and again at baseline.
Data collection included oxygen saturation (SaO2), heart rate (HR), respiration rate (RR),
body temperature (BT), processing time to activate switches, and response accuracy.
The following results were recorded:
1. SaO2 levels increased from “distressed” to “normal” – variability decreased.
2. HR, RR, and BT fluctuations decreased with the custom-molded back.
3. Processing time decreased with increased variability, affected by subject’s motivation.
4. accuracy improved slightly.
5. social approachability and student-initiated communication increased.
The researchers concluded that SaO2 increased and HR, RR, and BT fluctuations decreased
with a custom-molded back and recommend graphing data to help clarify the effects of
different seating systems with complex clients.
Reference:
Lephart, Kim PT, DPT, MBA, PCS; Kaplan, Sandra L. PT, DPT, PhD. Two Seating Systems’
Effects on an Adolescent With Cerebral Palsy and Severe Scoliosis. Pediatric Physical
Therapy. Fall 2015 Vol. 27 – Issue 3: p 258–266

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