Purpose:
The seating and mobility clinic provides comprehensive consultation, evaluation and fitting of wheelchairs or specialized seating devices for patients with various physical disabilities.

Who would benefit from visiting the seating and mobility clinic?
The seating and mobility clinic might be helpful if you have any of the following issues: 

• Significant leg and/or arm weakness that makes walking difficult
• Balance issues that make walking unsafe
• Poorly fitting wheelchair
• Pain with use of your current wheelchair; pain that makes walking difficult
• Difficulty using current wheelchair in the home or community
• Poor endurance or fatigue
• Significant change in medical or physical condition that has made mobility more difficult

We can assist people who have difficulty with mobility as a result of a variety of diagnoses including, but not limited to:

• Acquired brain injury
• Stroke
• Spinal cord injury
• Arthritis
• Multiple sclerosis
• Spinal muscular atrophy
• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
• Post polio syndrome
• Cerebral palsy

Goals of proper seating and positioning include:

• Increased mobility and independence
• Environmental access in the home and community
• Protection of skin integrity
• Improved head and trunk control
• Improved arm control and function
• Improved heart and lung function
• Greater balance
• Improved comfort
• Reduction of pressure points
• Support of proper body alignment
• Enhanced safety
• Increased ease of nursing care

Members of the seating and mobility team:

• Physical or occupational therapy seating specialist
• Equipment vendor
• Adaptive technology specialist
• Physician
• The client and family or caregiver

Why do you need a seating and mobility team?
Selection of an appropriate wheelchair and seating system is a very important process, especially when an individual depends on a chair for mobility.  The seating and mobility team helps the client and/or the family select a chair that maximizes independence and efficiency of mobility in the home, community, and workplace.  Specialized evaluations are completed to determine the specific needs of each client.  Demonstration equipment, simulation of the seating system and diagnostic tools, such as pressure mapping, are utilized to optimize comfort and function. With so many products on the market to choose from, information on the latest technology can be overwhelming.  The team can help people select the best products to meet every individual need. The therapist, with the physician?s and vendor?s input, writes a detailed letter of medical necessity to help ensure that the insurance provider is well informed and that the appropriate equipment will be covered.

Requirements for program participation:

• Must be at least 16 years old
• Must be medically stable
• Must have a support system or be able to independently follow through with recommendations
• Must have a written referral from a physician

How do you make an appointment?

• Get a referral from your physician
• Call (404) 712-5527 and make an appointment with the outpatient program secretary