Medical Benefits of Tilt-In-Space

Course presenter: Jane Fontein

Duration: 3 hours

Course Description: This workshop will provide practical instruction in assessing and prescribing manual mobility devices for people with a variety of needs focusing on those that benefit from tilt in space as well as the bariatric client. What are the medical benefits of tilt? Pressure relief and positioning are just two of the possible medical benefits from tilt. Are there studies supporting these benefits? In order to discuss medical benefits of tilt a basic understanding of manual mobility and the seating assessment process and principles will be reviewed. The workshop will then discuss many possible medical benefits of tilt with a focus on the elderly. Case studies will be used demonstrating those benefits with support from the literature and also spur discussion on ideas from the audience of their experience with tilt. A list of these benefits will be created as well as a list of studies supporting the medical benefits of tilt will be provided. Measurable outcomes will be discussed with respect to tilt and manual mobility. A section of the course will focus on the bariatric client and the issues surrounding basic manual mobility of the bariatric client, as well as possibility of tilt in space for the bariatric client.

Presenter biography: Jane Fontein, BSc.OT, has been an Occupational Therapist for twenty five years. She worked in a variety of settings at the beginning of her career including long term care, and rehab. At GF Strong Rehab Centre a large rehab centre in Vancouver, British Columbia she worked on the spinal cord unit. She also coordinated the Out-patient seating programme, providing seating and mobility for a variety of disabilities with moderate to severe challenges. Jane has also worked for manufacturers of seating products as the Education Manager. Jane has been providing education seminars and in-services across North America for seating and mobility for many years. She has spoken at the International Seating Symposium on several occasions, the European Seating Symposium as well as RESNA, the Canadian Seating and Mobility Conference, and Medtrade. Jane currently is the Clinical Specialist for PDG- Product Design Group, providing continuing education seminars in Canada and the United States.

Objectives: Medical Benefits of Tilt-In-Space

1. Identify the medical benefits of tilt-in-space

2. Identify existing studies with respect to manual tilt-in-space wheelchairs

3. Identify risk factors of tissue trauma and poor positioning

4. Identify measurable outcomes for seating and mobility

5. Identify clinical application and functional outcomes for the prescription of manual positioning systems for clients who are: agitated, the frail elderly, bariatric, clients with tissue trauma, and clients with a variety of neurological conditions.

6. Have a basic understanding of the principles of seating and the seating assessment process