Wheelchair Positioning: The Pelvis
Presented by Michelle L. Lange
What is the cornerstone of wheelchair positioning? The pelvis. The position of the pelvis very much determines the position of the trunk and lower extremities, so achieving and maintaining the optimal position is critical. This course will present common pelvic asymmetries, with suggested strategies to address each challenge. Providing as neutral a pelvic position as possible improves overall posture, stability, and function. This course is applicable to occupational and physical therapists who work with clients using wheelchairs and applies to multiple practice settings.
Learning Objectives
- Apply appropriate wheelchair seating interventions to a client sitting in posterior pelvic tilt
- Apply appropriate wheelchair seating interventions to a client sitting in anterior pelvic tilt
- Apply appropriate wheelchair seating interventions to a client sitting in pelvic rotation
- Apply appropriate wheelchair seating interventions to a client sitting in pelvic obliquity
- Implement appropriate wheelchair seating interventions to improve mobility to enhance participation in desired daily occupations and reduce risk for complications such as skin breakdown or limb contractures
Meet your instructor
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…
Chapters & learning objectives
1. Positioning the Pelvis: Posterior Pelvic Tilt
A posterior pelvic tilt is typically seen in combination with a kyphotic trunk and can lead to weight-bearing on the sacral area. Strategies for reducing a posterior tilt include preventing forward movement of the ischial tuberosities (ITs), posterior movement of the upper pelvis, and an appropriately angled pelvic positioning belt.
2. Positioning the Pelvis: Anterior Pelvic Tilt
An anterior pelvic tilt is typically seen in combination with lumbar lordosis. Strategies for reducing an anterior pelvic tilt include an appropriately angled pelvic positioning belt and reducing the lordosis, as possible.
3. Positioning the Pelvis: Pelvic Rotation
Pelvic rotation occurs when one anterior superior iliac spine (ASIS) is forward of the other and can be seen in conjunction with spinal rotation. Strategies for reducing pelvic rotation include direction of pull of the pelvic positioning belt and limiting movement of the IT on the forward side and movement of the posterior pelvis on the rearward side.
4. Positioning the Pelvis: Pelvic Obliquity
Pelvic obliquity occurs when one side of the pelvis is higher than the other and is often seen in conjunction with lateral spinal flexion. Strategies focus on pressure distribution and are highly dependent on whether the obliquity can be reduced.
More courses in this series
Wheelchair Positioning: The Mat Exam
Michelle L. Lange
Wheelchair Positioning: The Pelvis
Michelle L. Lange
Wheelchair Positioning: The Trunk
Michelle L. Lange
Wheelchair Positioning: The Extremities
Michelle L. Lange
Wheelchair Positioning: The Head
Michelle L. Lange
Wheelchair Positioning: Tying It All Together—A Series of Case Studies
Michelle L. Lange
Frequently asked questions
Everything you need to know about Medbridge courses.
Who creates Medbridge courses?
We work with industry-leaders, top researchers, and consultants to build content roadmaps that are then structured into courses, filmed, and edited by our production team before being launched to our site.
How often does Medbridge release new courses?
New courses are added monthly and are automatically included in your subscription as they launch.
How often does Medbridge update courses?
Medbridge reviews its courses annually for relevance and to assess if content is up to date. Based on these reviews it may be determined that a course is out of date resulting in the course being re-filmed or retired, if the content is no longer needed (e.g. a replacement course already exists, the concepts are no longer best practice, etc.).
How many courses does Medbridge offer?
We have over 3,000 accredited courses and we are continually updating our library with new courses. Check our course library for the most up-to-date count for your discipline.
Are there any additional fees for taking a Medbridge course?
There are no additional fees for taking a Medbridge course, obtaining a course certificate of completion, earning CEUs as a subscriber, or accessing any of the additional tools your subscription may include.
Is there a limit to the number of courses I can take?
There is no limit to the number of courses you can take as a subscriber! As a subscriber to Medbridge, you have unlimited access to over 3,000+ accredited CE courses.
If you are a Premium subscriber, you also have unlimited access to our Patient Engagement Tools such as the Home Exercise Program, Patient Education Library, Orthopedic Exam Tests, and Manual Therapy Techniques. We have over 7,000 exercises and over 650+ videos and handouts of patient education resources with more exercises and patient education added to the library based on subscriber feedback, volume of request and specialities.
What is your refund policy?
You are eligible for a refund provided your request is received within 30 days of your subscription purchase and your account has no activity.