Condition:
- Curvature of the spine
- Paralysis of right leg
- Hip, knee and ankle surgery
Challenges:
- Standing transfers causing shoulder pain
Solution:
- Configura Rise & Recline
Functional benefits:
- Bespoke chair size
- Riser function
Description of case:
Maria was diagnosed with polio as a child, which has resulted in a curvature of the spine and paralysis of her right leg. She has also had to undergo surgery on her hip, knee and ankle due to complications resulting from the polio. Maria, who is 63 years old, has been dependent on crutches for all mobility for several years, leading to pain and discomfort in her shoulder joints.
Main issues:
Due to the paralysis in her right leg, Maria was dependent on her upper-body strength to manage all standing transfers. The strain on Maria’s shoulder joints began to cause her significant pain and she was no longer able to push her weight through her arms. As a result, she became dependent on her daughter to assist her to stand. Unfortunately, this caused her daughter to sustain a shoulder injury, which is when Maria contacted her Occupational Therapist (OT) to review alternative options.
Intervention:
The modular design of the Configura Rise & Recline allowed the chair to be set up according to Maria’s seat depth, popliteal height, and width.
Outcomes:
The riser function enabled Maria to stand independently, minimising the amount of pressure she needed to place on her arms or shoulders. During a follow-up visit, Maria informed her OT that this had made a huge difference to her quality of life, stating that the chair has ‘transformed my life’. She advised that not only is she now independent with standing transfers, she is experiencing considerably less shoulder pain, which also enables her to sleep much better at night. Maria reported that the chair was extremely comfortable and she was very grateful.
