An Overview of Therapeutic Positioning for Multiply-Handicapped Persons, Including Augmentative Communication Users

Abstract

The body of literature related to adaptive equipment for positioning clients with neuro-musculoskeletal disorders has expanded slowly since the early 1970s. Much of this literature describes custom solutions to positioning problems for individual clients with cerebral palsy. Papers addressing the positioning needs for augmentative communication users remain sparse and superficial in scope. Furthermore, the literature on adaptive equipment solutions is substantially limited to clinicians' perceptions and theoretical premises of the effectiveness of positioning devices. Few formal studies of the effects of positioning have been reported, and none of the studies have addressed the relationship of body positioning to the use of augmentative communication devices. The purpose of this paper is to provide a review of the literature devoted to formal studies and guidelines for the use of therapeutic positioning for clients with multiple physical needs. Considerations for employing seating and positioning systems with clients using augmentative or alternative means of communication will also be addressed.