CASE STUDY
Name: C.D.
Age: 13 years
Occupation: Student, Queensland, Australia
Symptoms
C.D. has been affected by sypolo epipyseal dysplasia congenita, so that, when sitting on a conventional flat school seat, he has very great difficulty seeing, reaching or physically doing his work. C.D. told us that, in fact, he kneels on his chair in class in order to perform some tasks. When he doesn't kneel he sits on the very edge of the seat or on his feet. C.D.'s school seat is far too deep for him from hip to knee, and he cannot touch the floor except with the tips of his toes, even when on the edge.
Introduction to the Saddle Seat
Cairns Therapy Services, a group of therapists and teacher advisers to school children with special needs, advised C.D. to try the Bambach Saddle Seat. The seat employed was a cut down model with a standard backrest, 80mm drop through gas lift and locking castors. The Advisory Visiting Teacher for Physically Impaired (AVTPI) was present as well as an occupational therapist and counselled on the appropriate use of the seat which, he felt, greatly improved C.D.'s posture.
Result
Once C.D. was on the Bambach Saddle Seat his posture was dramatically improved. His pelvis was tilted upright rather than backward (which previously resulted in a loss of normal spinal curves). This new pelvic position corrected the spinal position to normal 'S' curves rather than a flattened 'C'. C.D.'s head and neck now assumed the 'normal' position with least stress. He can now see better, can see the screen and keyboard without elevating and protruding his chin (which used to overextend his neck and put it into a position of severe stress). The position of the keyboard is still too high (it should be slightly below elbow height for ideal hand, wrist and arm position). C.D.'s feet on the Bambach Saddle Seat are in full plantar contact so he has mobility around his desk. His shoulders are now relaxed and not hunched up to his ears.
With his legs each side of his body, he can rock forward on his pelvis; the Bambach Saddle Seat design supports the pelvis, allowing him to assume and maintain correct posture. C.D. told the AVTPI that he notices the difference when he sits on the Bambach Saddle Seat in that he feels better and he can now use the keyboard more easily.
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