Case study: Electric standing frame means Kieran can enjoy his Xbox time
Since the end of last year, 12-year-old Kieran from Staffordshire has been benefiting from a Trio electric standing frame from Baffin Technology Systems, which features the revolutionary Second Spine Technology.
Kieran was diagnosed with Friedreich’s ataxia – a very rare form of ataxia that affects approximately 15,000 around the world – five years ago. The condition affects every muscle in Kieran’s body, which means he is reliant on a powerchair at home and school.
As part of Kieran’s ongoing physiotherapy and occupational therapy programmes, it is vital that he moves from a sitting to a standing position several times a day. To help him try to achieve this he tried various standers but with little success.
His mother, Leeann, explains: “We were advised by Kieran’s physio that it was important he moved to a standing position as much as possible as he was unable to stand unaided, so we tried several different standing solutions, but nothing seemed to work as they were either too rigid or hurt Kieran’s knees.
“That all changed when we found Baffin Technology and Simon came to see us to conduct an assessment and demonstrate the Trio Kieran and I immediately knew that we had found what we had been looking for.”
The Trio enables Kieran to move from a sitting to standing position as often and for as long as he wants, without the help of his mother or anybody else.
“The Trio is brilliant; it is so easy to use and really comfortable and I love the fact I can operate the chair and move myself from sitting to standing independently – even when I am playing my Xbox,” comments Kieran.
By ensuring that Kieran frequently switches between sitting and standing, the gentle movement helps to keep the bowel healthy, and his cardiovascular system and immunology are also improved by standing as often as possible. This results in a more general feeling of good health with less coughs, colds, and chest infections.
Leeann concludes: “The Trio has made such a difference to Kieran and I would not hesitate in recommending Baffin Technology Systems to any family with a child who needs assistance with moving from sitting to standing.
“Simon and the rest of the team are incredibly knowledgeable and always available should we have any queries and that peace of mind combined with the superb quality of the Trio is invaluable.”
The Second Spine Technology system in the Trio has been designed to create and support optimal positioning of the user’s spine and pelvis. In addition, the technology helps to prevent or significantly slow down the development of certain conditions, and all this can be achieved while Kieran remains comfortable.
Second Spine Technology achieves this by anatomically mapping Kieran’s spinal curvatures to allow passive correction of the spine in a seated position by supporting the entire length of the back to reduce pressure on the individual vertebrae. By doing this, the Second Spine Technology also helps to prevent further distortions.
The sit-to-sand devices available from Baffin Technology are multifunctional, as the user can sit up, lie down, and stand up (three-in-one) at the touch of a button on the remote control without the need to be transferred to another piece of equipment.
Placing a child in a standing position is time consuming and can often cause more stress and result in an incorrect spinal position but with the Trio this is no longer the case.
For more information on the full range of products available from Baffin Technology Systems or to arrange an assessment, call 01788 892 056, email office@baffin.co.uk, or visit the website.