DESEMO seats for young children with cerebral palsy

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Rehabilitation
• Assistive Technology
• Cerebral Palsy Management

Background:

• Children with cerebral palsy often have severe motor impairments, affecting independent sitting and positioning.
• Commercially available seating solutions frequently fail to meet the complex needs of these children.
• Customized seating is crucial for optimizing function, comfort, and participation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To clinically evaluate the efficacy of custom-molded DESEMO seats for children with cerebral palsy.
• To assess the impact of the DESEMO seat on motor function, feeding, and deformity prevention.
• To determine parental acceptance, cost-effectiveness, and growth accommodation of the seating device.

Main Methods:

• Twelve children (18 months–8 years) with cerebral palsy and abnormal motor function received custom-molded DESEMO seats.
• Clinical assessments included relaxation, head control, upper extremity function, feeding, and deformity progression.
• Parental feedback on acceptance, cost, cosmesis, convenience, and growth potential was gathered.

Main Results:

• The DESEMO seat improved head control in 10 out of 12 children.
• Secure positioning enabled joystick operation for wheelchair users and facilitated peer interaction for floor sitters.
• Feeding improved significantly in two children, with weight gain and reduced feeding times; however, spinal deformities showed no improvement.

Conclusions:

• Custom-molded DESEMO seats offer significant benefits in head control and functional positioning for children with cerebral palsy.
• The device enhances participation in daily activities and improves wheelchair mobility.
• While effective for positioning and function, the DESEMO seat does not address spinal deformity progression.