Seating for the chairbound disabled person--a survey of seating equipment in the United Kingdom.

The chairbound, handicapped person often requires a cushion to distribute the supportive forces over the largest area possible in order to reduce the risk of the development of a pressure sore. The paraplegic, or someone with a pelvic obliquity, may require a specially contoured cushion to redistribute seating pressures. Additionally, postural support can be provided by a relatively simple harness or by lateral support pads, either fitted as extras to standard wheelchairs or included as part of some wheelchair designs. The severely handicapped person may require padded inserts in his wheelchair or an intimately moulded seat which helps to control some spasms as well as to provide a functional, comfortable posture. Each of the commonly used methods of solving the seating problems of the chairbound person is discussed and different production processes used for the manufacture of personalized seats are presented.