Wheelchair Positioning: The Mat Exam

Presented by Michelle L. Lange

Video Runtime: 61 Minutes; Learning Assessment Time: 53 Minutes

A key component of wheelchair seating assessment is the mat assessment. This course will present the mat assessment, including evaluating the client in both supine and sitting and addressing measurements. Translating mat assessment findings into appropriate seating applications will be illustrated through several case studies. This course is applicable to occupational and physical therapists who work with clients using wheelchairs, and it applies to multiple practice settings.

Learning Objectives

Apply three components of a mat assessment to a client requiring wheelchair seating
Apply the appropriate steps in assessing available hip and knee flexion for a seated position in a client requiring wheelchair seating
Determine where postural support is required in a wheelchair seating system based on the mat assessment
Correlate mat assessment findings to wheelchair seating solutions to facilitate improved client participation in daily activities

Meet your instructor

Person with curly hair in a coral sweater standing against a white textured background.

Michelle L. Lange

Michelle Lange is an occupational therapist with more than 38 years of experience. She has been in private practice at Access to Independence for more than 19 years. She is a well-respected lecturer, both nationally and internationally, and has authored numerous texts, chapters, and articles. She is the coeditor of Seating…

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Chapters & learning objectives

1. The Mat Assessment: Components

The mat assessment includes evaluating multiple components, including client muscle tone, muscle strength, range of motion, reflexes, movement patterns, and postural control. Each component impacts the client’s seated posture and must be assessed and documented.

2. The Mat Assessment: Supine

In supine, client range of motion, muscle tone, flexibility, and alignment are evaluated while eliminating the impact of gravity on posture. The supine evaluation helps determine the upper-leg-to-trunk angle in seating that allows the pelvis to remain in neutral alignment.

3. The Mat Assessment: Sitting

Next, the client is examined sitting on the edge of the mat table, with postural support provided by the clinician’s hands and body. This positioning helps determine where and how much support is required to maintain an upright and aligned posture.

4. The Mat Assessment: Translation to Wheelchair Seating System

The support required to maintain an upright seated posture on the edge of the mat table is similar to the necessary support in a wheelchair seating system. The body angles that optimize trunk and head control define the wheelchair seating system angles.

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