24 Hour Positioning

School based therapists are frequently involved in monitoring sitting and standing postures in order for students to access the educational curriculum without compromising range of motion.  It is the pediatric therapists job to ensure that deformities are avoided through proper positioning.  Obviously, this can be monitored and followed during the school day.  But what happens when the student goes home.  If a student is positioned properly at school whether in a wheelchair or adaptive seating and then goes home to sit slumped on a couch not much will be accomplished.  Or perhaps a student goes home and remains seated or standing with appropriate posture but then goes to sleep for 10 hours in a misaligned position.  

Although school based therapists only work in the school, educational goals may not be met if a program is not also followed through at home.  Consider the following when creating a positioning program and offer suggestions to help supplement proper positioning at home:

1. Is the child positioned properly before school and during transport?
2. Is the child positioned properly in each classroom setting ie homeroom, library, music, art, etc?
3. Does the child have appropriate posture during meal times?
4. Is the child positioned properly after school?
5. Is the child positioned properly during sleep time? (here is an informative article on sleep positioning - http://www.atgrehab.com/clinician/articles/LOJSampleSleepPositioningEquipment.pdf )