Chin Support for a 21-year-old with Cerebral Palsy
People with cerebral palsy who cannot hold their heads upright for extended periods of time can develop a condition called kyphosis, an outward curvature of the spine that leads to a rounded upper back. The condition can require surgery and a long recuperation. So providing support for the head of such people is a serious necessity.
One particular person with cerebral palsy, a 21-year-old man who controls his wheel chair with head movements, required a flexible support. Students working with the assistance of Hanger Prosthetics and Orthotics developed three designs, a neck brace, a chin strap, and a chin table, and presented them to the young man for his selection. The chin strap provides him with the support he needs to be able to use his wheelchair.
Student participants and affiliations
- Elizabeth DiBona, University of Hartford
- Meghan Hegarty, University of Hartford
- Lina Rincon, University of Hartford
- Darrah Speiser, University of Hartford
The Center
for Life Support and Sustainable Living is funded in part through a grant from the
National Science Foundation Advanced Technology Education program. Copyright
2008. All rights reserved.