Postural Management

What is Postural Care and who carries it out?

Postural Care (also known as Postural Management or Positive Positioning) is a 24-hour programme which is recommended by an occupational therapist and/or physiotherapist.

It aims to protect your child’s body shape during the day and night, encouraging them to grow with the healthiest posture they can achieve.

Everyone who cares for your child needs to understand the programme and be involved in its delivery. Postural care is a central part of a child’s life at home, school and leisure outlets. We will work with each person involved with the care of your child to ensure everybody is following the same postural care plan.

It is important that you and your child let us know when things are not working well so that the best solution can be found for your family.

Who needs a 24-hour Postural Care programme?

Children with limited movements
Children who are unable to correct or change their position
Children with unequal or repetitive movement patterns
Children with stiff or floppy muscles
Children with reduced movement at their joints or spine

What will happen?

Your child will be seen by an occupational therapist and/or physiotherapist for an assessment. This could be at home, school or clinic setting. We will ask parents and other carers to attend, as appropriate.
We often take photographs to monitor your child’s posture over time. These are stored confidentially and we will only do this with your consent.
Your child may be assessed in lying, sitting and standing.
We will ask you questions so that we fully understand your family situation.
We will work with you and your child to develop an individual postural care plan ensuring the best positions for lying, sitting and standing.
We may recommend specialist equipment to support your child. This may be required short term, for example whilst your child is still growing and developing. However, sometimes it may be needed long term.
Equipment could be as basic as some rolled up towels, pillows or cuddly toys!
If specialist equipment is required it could include a specialist seat, standing frame or night time positioning system.
Any plan or equipment will be discussed with you and your child.
Please ask questions throughout.
Your child’s postural needs will be reviewed as required.

What to wear

Please bring your child in a P.E kit or similar clothing to ensure the physiotherapist is able to carry out the assessment easily

What are the benefits of Postural Care?

Good positioning can reduce and sometimes prevent:
The risk of changes to your child’s joints, particularly the hips and spine
Pain
Breathing difficulties
Feeding and digestive difficulties
Pressure ulcers
Fractures caused by poor bone density
When children have the right equipment to meet their postural needs, then it is easier for them to carry out their everyday activities and for carers to care for their children.

Physiotherapy equipment used to support posture and change of position

The physiotherapy team may decide your child would benefit from use of specialist equipment to support your child’s posture and provide them with a change of position.

This equipment may include:

A standing frame to assist and support your child into a standing position
A wedge to support your child in lying in different positions and work on head control
A sleep system to support your child in midline posture through the night
An early activity system to support your child’s posture as they are developing

Information and images copyright of Leckey: https://www.leckey.com/media/3105/1-leckey-why-stand-poster-v2.pdf

Please note that the above links are to external websites owned and operated by third parties. These links are not endorsements or recommendations. We have no control over the contents of third party websites, and Humber Teaching NHS Foundation Trust accepts no responsibility for them or for any loss or damage that may arise from your use of them.