Modular Seating

What are modular seats?

A modular seat is made up of highly adjustable components, allowing a single seating system to be fine-tuned to a variety of sizes and postures. This makes them ideal for growing children, teens and users whose needs are likely to change over time. 

Standard wheelchair seats are not commonly tailored to the user and might not provide adequate postural support to wheelchair users with complex needs. In most cases, standard seats can be suitable for wheelchair users who are not at risk of complications such as pressure sores or contractures. Physical conditions can limit their ability to stretch, shift around or walk which can put users at greater risk of complications. Standard seats commonly do not have the required measurements to support patients with complex postural needs for long hours. Over time, an ill-fitted seat can cause discomfort, worsen a patient’s condition, risk the rotation of the pelvis, pressure sores, contractures or back pains. If the standard seats are unable to meet the needs of the patient, modular seats can be tailored with the right contours to meet the needs of the patient. 

In short, modular seats are alternative wheelchair seats made with precise and adjustable measurements based on the user’s body shape to best support their pelvis, spine and posture.

Who would use modular seats?

Patients with physical conditions can experience discomfort when fixed in one position for long hours because maintaining a functional and comfortable posture requires mobility to shift around throughout the day. Modular seats are great for patients with reduced mobility due to a physical condition; the adjustable seats can be configured to offer low, medium or high-level postural support for varying conditions. The versatility of a modular seat makes it ideal for patients with progressive health conditions and adapts to growth occurring in paediatric patients.

Materials for Seating

Modular seating products are commonly made from 3 different materials: foam, gel and air. 

Different seating materials can provide different levels of firmness, stability, pressure relief and postural support. Many seating products can also be made with a combination of materials to cater to different needs. We can additionally use inserts for enhanced comfort and pressure relief, or cushion covers designed for temperature regulation. As wheelchair users spend a considerable length of time seated, it is important to consider a suitable seat which provides adequate support and comfort.

Air: Air is the least dense material of the three, followed by gel and lastly, foam which possesses the greatest density. Different materials are used to achieve different levels of comfort and support. Air seats most effectively sculpt around the shape of your body, ensuring maximum contact surface area between the patient and the seat to redistribute pressure across the body. Whilst air is most excellent for the relief of pressure sores, air offers the least stability and support during transfers when compared to gel and foam. 

Gel: Modular seats made of gel offer a balanced combination of stability and pressure relief. Gel seats are great for minor pressure sores because the soft gel seat redistributes the peak pressure points. However, gel seats can be heavier than foam and air seats. Featuring a balance of pressure relief and stability, a gel seat can be ideal for users with minor pressure sores who also require support during transfers.

Foam: As foam is the most dense material of the three, foam seats will best provide support for users when they use the seat as support when standing or sitting. Foam seats can be contoured to maximise the user’s comfort but do not excel in pressure relief. However, foam seats are the most stable and easiest to maintain when compared with air and gel seats.

Custom Moulded Seating

What are custom moulded seats?

A custom-moulded seat is a seat which has been precisely moulded to the patient’s unique body shape to provide postural support and maximise the area of contact between the seat and the body. By maximising the area of contact, pressure on the body is redistributed which reduces the peak pressure points and allows an even distribution of pressure on the skin. Custom moulded seats are particularly effective at reducing pressure sores which is important for patients who spend long hours seated. When pressure sores are left untreated, the damage can progress to affect deeper layers of the skin and potentially the muscle or bone. Aside from pressure care, custom moulds are individually tailored with contours to support complex body shapes and asymmetrical muscle tone. 

Custom moulded seats can fit into different wheelbases. Whether you are looking to fit a custom moulded seat into a new or existing wheelchair, the mould can be tailored to a range of health conditions and wheelbases. 

Who would use custom moulded seats?

Off-the-shelf products might not be able to provide adequate support to patients with complex needs and asymmetrical body shapes. Patients who require additional pressure relief and support, or experience discomfort with standard seats can benefit from a custom moulded seat. Pressure sores and asymmetrical posture can worsen with standard seats because there is an uneven distribution of pressure exerted on the body for long periods. Custom moulded seats can be helpful for patients who spend long hours in their seats and are looking for an alternative seating solution.

The Process of Getting a Custom Moulded Seat

Our clinical assessor will guide the patient through the different stages of their journey to find the right mould for their needs. Different stages are involved to evaluate the patient’s body shape, comfort and health, and develop the custom mould. 

Patient journey

1. A 2-hour clinical assessment: We will evaluate the needs and goals of the patient, as well as how well their current seating product is functioning for them. If the patient has pressure risks, requires postural correction or experiences discomfort in their current seat, the custom mould will need to account for these factors to best support the patient. The clinical assessor will also perform a series of physical assessments to evaluate the patient’s ability and range of motion with their trunk, arms and legs. 

2. Casting the mould: When casting the mould, the patient will sit on a casting bag. Our clinical room has a patient hoist if assistance is required during transfers. We have casting bags of varying sizes to suit individuals of different sizes and shapes. Areas of the body that require additional support will be identified and the mould will be modified according to their needs. Once our clinical assessor, the patient and any healthcare professionals involved are satisfied with the positioning, air will be sucked out of the bag to fix the mould in place. 

3. Fine-tuning to optimise comfort & support: The shape of the casting bag will be scanned and digitalised into a 3D CAD file. On the computer, the 3D digital mould can be manipulated to add or remove contours in certain areas. For example, our team may recess the seat at peak pressure points to provide areas of complete offloading or further increase the depth of lateral support. Before finalising the the seat, patients can either trial the mould or opt for a midfit which is the manufactured seat in its desired material but without its covers and hardware. Once the digital shape is finalised, the seating will be manufactured with its revisions. 

4. Manufacturing the custom moulded seat: There are two ways to manufacture a custom moulded seat which are additive manufacturing and reductive manufacturing. Additive manufacturing, also known as 3D printing, involves the addition of thin layers to build the seat. On the other hand, reductive manufacturing is where layers are removed from a solid block of material to form the desired shape. Our clinical assessor will choose a manufacturing process to best suit your seat.

5. Handover: After the seat has been finalised and manufactured, the custom moulded seat will be handed over by our clinical assessor to the patient or caregiver. The seat can be either fitted into an existing wheelchair or be fitted into a new wheelchair previously chosen by the patient and healthcare professional. During the handover, there will be a final fit check to ensure the patient is comfortable. The clinical assessor will provide instructions on hoisting and positioning, as well as any possible considerations for the patient’s new seating position.

Speak to a clinical assessor

Each specialist seating product is conscientiously measured according to a patient’s physiology and health condition to optimise support for their needs and lifestyle goals. Possessing a speciality in neurophysiology, posture and rehabilitation engineering, our clinical assessors will identify the most effective strategies and equipment for each patient.

Assessment cost

Clinical assessments in our private clinical room in Chessington are £250. Alternatively, we conduct home assessments for individuals who are unable to travel for £500. For home assessments, we will bring different seating equipment and mobility products in a van to your home.

Booking an assessment

Call us on 0800 025 8005 to arrange an assessment with a clinical assessor at a convenient time for you. 

Accredited CPD Training on Seating

At Wheelfreedom, we provide free accredited CPD training for healthcare professionals such as occupational therapists, nurses and carers of all levels and expertise. Our training helps healthcare professionals gain more knowledge on postural care by providing hands-on practical experience with mobility products.

Connect with us on Eventbrite or LinkedIn for the latest updates on our exciting CPD training days. Please contact us at cpd@wheelfreedom.com for CPD-related enquiries.