Rel. between prescribed CCS and 'habitual' sitting posture. rev 1.0
Research type
Research Study
Full title
An investigation into the relationship between a prescribed custom contoured seat that has shown improvements in or successfully managed a client's posture, and the client's 'habitual' sitting posture.
IRAS ID
90356
Contact name
Colin Gibson
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Cardiff and Vale University Local Health Board
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
12406, UKCRN ID
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 3 months, 31 days
Research summary
Research Summary
Custom contoured seating is prescribed to meet the clinical, functional and social needs of clients with severe musculoskeletal deformities. Custom contoured seats accommodate and, where possible, correct posture in such a way as to minimise risk whilst optimising function and comfort. Clinical and biomechanical judgements are important and necessary factors in determining the shape of a clinically effective custom contoured seat that successfully corrects (as opposed to merely accommodates) posture. This study will investigate the relationship between a prescribed, clinically effective posture correcting custom contoured seat shape and the client's body shape when sat in a 'habitual' position, that is, in the absence of postural correction.
The relationship being studied represents the thought processes that highly skilled, experienced and qualified Clinical Engineers go through when creating a clinically effective custom contoured seat. The study will compare 'habitual' and corrected sitting postures and investigate which engineering rules were used to create the seat shape.
The client's 'habitual' sitting posture will be captured using the Cardiff Body Match mechanical shape sensor which is a well established clinical tool for producing custom contoured seats. A 'habitual' sitting posture will be achieved by allowing the client to sit in the Cardiff Body Match with no external forces other than gravity acting upon the client to affect the posture.
The client's corrected posture will be captured from the surface shape of the client's existing and demonstrably clinically effective custom contoured seat using a 3D scanner.
The aim of this study is to extract from the data the engineering rules that underpin the clinical judgements used by the highly skilled, experienced and qualified Clinical Engineers to create clinically effective custom contoured seats. If successful, these rules would be used to enhance the training of future Clinical Engineers and to develop a Knowledge Based System that automates the seat creation process.
Summary of Results
Thank you to the clients of the Cardiff Rehabilitation Engineering Unit’s Special Seating Service who, along with their family and carers gave up their time to take part in this study.
Terminology
Habitual sitting posture: Posture with no correction applied or external influences other than gravity.
Supported sitting posture: Posture with correction applied. The correction is applied by the shape of the seat, the orientation of the seat, and clinicians holding you in-place.
Body-shape measurement: A measurement of the back, buttocks, and thighs. The measurement was captured using a device called the Cardiff Body Match (CBM) mechanical shape sensor.
Title: (14/WA/1120) An investigation into the relationship between a prescribed custom contoured seat that has shown improvements in or successfully managed a client's posture, and the client's 'habitual' sitting posture.
This study was carried out and sponsored by the Cardiff Rehabilitation Engineering Unit, University of South Wales and EPSRC (Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council). It was started as part of a PhD project which concluded before the study ended. The study was completed by staff at the Cardiff Rehabilitation Engineering Unit.
Ten clients of the Cardiff Rehabilitation Engineering Unit allowed the research team to use their supported body-shape measurements for this study. Eight of the participants felt they were able to undertake a second body-shape measurement in an unsupported position at the ALAS Posture and Mobility Centre. This meant being seated in the body-shape measurement device without the support of the posture supporting cushions and without a clinician holding them in a stable position. The research team would again like to thank the participants for their dedication. Sitting in a position that is not comfortable and would not feel stable to the participant took courage.
All ten of the participants undertook their measurements safely and continued in their clinic after the measurements had been taken. There were no incidents reported in the study.
The goal of this study was to investigate whether there was a quantifiable relationship between a patient’s habitual sitting posture and their supported sitting posture. Secondly, the project aimed to see if this quantifiable measure could find a difference between the average posture of volunteers with no known postural conditions and participants of the study.
A measure was developed which quantifies the difference between a participant’s measurement and the volunteers’ average measurement. The difference is calculated by aligning the body-shape measurement of the participant to the volunteers’ average measurement. This alignment produces a list of values (vectors) that describe how the participant’s measurement was re-shaped to align it to the volunteers’ average measurement. The average size of these values (mean of the vectors’ size) is used as the measure.
The study also found that it is possible to quantify the difference between measurements of an individual’s habitual and supported posture.
This study must now be followed with a wider reaching clinical evaluation of the measurement technique. If the technique is effective, it will finally make it possible to have an objective measure of posture so that clinical outcomes for posture can objectively be measured and checked over time.
The results of this study will be published in a peer-reviewed journal. Participants of the study will be notified of the outputs of the study via a communication after the publication of the journal article.
REC name
Wales REC 3
REC reference
14/WA/1120
Date of REC Opinion
12 Sep 2014
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion