CASE STUDY
Name: S.D
Age: 35 years
Occupation: Cellar Attendant.
Symptoms
S.D. has had severe back pain and nerve damage since manually handling heavy objects at work caused her to rupture four of her lumbar vertebrae. In the cellar in which she worked the attendants would catch cases of liquor as they were thrown from a truck. In October 1992, after lifting a half full keg of beer, S.D. experienced serious symptoms, including loss of bowel and bladder control and loss of the use of her legs.
After five surgical operations to fuse the discs, which included the insertion of rods, S.D. attempted to resume her family life; she was quite unable to return to her former work. As well as the damage to her lumbar spine, she suffered damage to her sacroiliac joints.
She is left with constant severe back pain and is so limited in strength and stability in her legs that attempting to stand and walk results in trembling, unstable stance, with knees in shaky half extension, unable to fully extend. She also has a distressing shortness of breath. Attempting to stand brings her dangerously close to collapse. S.D. is, therefore, dependent on her wheelchair in which, however, she is not symmetrical, and she falls to the right and forward.
Introduction to the Saddle Seat
S.D.'s occupational therapist recommended the Bambach Saddle Seat early 1993, and as soon as she tried it, she felt comfortable, stable and mobile in an upright position. It took several days to get used to the new posture and in the absence of proper instruction, S.D. worked out for herself hot to adjust the back, the tilt, and the ability the gas lift adjustment gives her to work at varying heights.
Result
To quote S.D.:
The Bambach Saddle Seat gave me strength and independence and above all, it gave me back my kitchen. Until I could do things by myself for my family, I was in constant conflict with my husband and two children; the frustration was overwhelming. The Saddle Seat is the most comfortable chair I have got. In an ordinary chair I need cushions to prop my leg and back; this seat seems to support me well with my legs each side of me. I can sit longer in this seat as it has better support than my wheelchair, and I feel supported and comfortable. In this posture there seems to be relief from the aching and the pain I was so used to, and I don't slump to one side. I do still ache, but not nearly as much, to the extent that I can sit on it to talk to people, but, most importantly, I can prepare meals myself for my family. I feel more normal on the Bambach Saddle Seat and I feel my upper body is stronger in it. The kitchen was out of bounds before. The freedom and independence means a lot to me.
S.D. with the aid of her mother and a paint roller, painted her house inside and outside (up to reaching height), using the Bambach Saddle Seat for mobility and functional reach. Sandra sits upright and in an active position, and is symmetrical with normal posture and righting reactions. Her feet and legs are mobile with some weight bearing in good plantar contact. Her breathing is easy while she is active. Psychologically the benefit is most important..
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