Fighting gravity: Assessing and understanding the impact of postural asymmetries in seating and wheeled mobility (May 2025)

May 15 – May 28, 2025 (on your own) 

May 29 and 30, 2025 from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. (Eastern Time)

What time is this for me?

Seating and mobility assessments are a critical part of all aspects of facilitating participation in occupations of life for those that have limitations in independent mobility (e.g., Gallagher et al., 2022; World Health Organization, 2023). To complete a seating and mobility prescription, therapists must be aware of physical, perceptual, visual, psychosocial, and emotional impacts on the client's mobility and seated posture, as well as consider their context and needs. Occupational therapists provide a critical component in the assessment and provision of assistive technology. An integral part of this assessment is a physical MAT assessment, which requires a hands-on assessment of the client to determine joint range of motion for a functional seated posture. To justify equipment prescriptions to third party payors as well as the client themselves, occupational therapists need to understand posture (normal posture and deviations from normal), as well as the theory and physics behind the use and provision of assistive technology to ensure no harm is done to the client (World Health Organization, 2022).

This online workshop will provide an overview of key considerations of assessing and understanding the impact of postural asymmetries to prepare an equipment prescription for clients of any age. The prerecorded lectures will review anatomy landmarking critical for assessing seated posture, as well as MAT assessment techniques to determine range of motion, and resultant reducible or non-reducible postures. Components of the MAT assessment, including the pelvis, trunk, hip, knee, foot, and thigh, will be explored with consideration to how they affect postural outcomes for head positioning in midline. Typical asymmetries of the pelvis and spine found in the seated position will be explored and reviewed with an understanding of how these asymmetries and gravitational factors can negatively affect head positioning through fatigue and pain. Participants will then apply the information learned to case studies with the goal of being ability to complete a thorough and justifiable wheeled mobility and seating prescription based on the assessment data gathered.

Preliminary workshop agenda

Pre-recorded lecture: May 15 – May 28, 2025 (on your own)

Day 1: May 29, 2025 from 12:00 to 4:00 p.m. (Eastern Time)

Day 2: May 30, 2025 from 12:00 to 4:00 p.m. (Eastern Time)

Learning objectives

By the end of this workshop, you will be able to:

1.    Understand the importance of completing a MAT Assessment.
2.    Recognize the impact of asymmetrical posture on all aspects of seating/wheeled mobility and body function.
3.    Recognize forces related to three-point positioning.
4.    Identify pelvic landmarks related to seated posture.
5.    Apply MAT assessment findings to simulation of corrected or accommodated posture recognize non reducible asymmetrical postures

Target audience

Occupational therapist clinicians, occupational therapist assistants (OTAs), physiotherapists, and physiotherapist assistants (PTAs) who wish to develop their skills in optimal seating and mobility through an increased understanding of postural asymmetries.

Please note: Each participant is responsible to ensure they apply the information within the context of their licensure, provincial/territorial legislations, institution regulations, scope of practice, etc.

Client age group

Young children (0-4 years old), Children (5-12 years old), Adolescents (13-19 years old), Adults (20-64 years old), Older adults (65+ years old)

Areas of practice

Assistive Technology, Brain Injury/Concussion/Spinal Cord, Chronic Pain, Developmental Disability, Equipment Assessments, Neurology, Older Adults, Orthopedics, Occupational Therapist Assistant (OTA), Pediatrics

Workshop level

Beginner (0-2 years of experience in this area of practice)

Please note: Participants with more than this stated level of experience are welcome to attend the workshop. The workshop content will be geared towards those with 0-2 years of experience in this area of practice.

Presenter

Sheila Buck, OT Reg. (Ont.)

Sheila is an occupational therapist and the owner of a seating and mobility consulting company, Therapy NOW, in Ontario, Canada. Sheila has spoken extensively in North America, Ireland, Norway and New Zealand on seating and mobility concepts for the very young to the very old. Her audiences have included, but are not limited to, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, nurses, doctors, case managers, DME (Durable Medical Equipment) vendors and manufacturers of seating and mobility products.  Her extensive knowledge related to the provision of assistive technology for mobility is reflected in her book More than 4 wheels:  Applying clinical practice to seating, mobility and assistive technology, 3rd edition. This excellent clinical guide is currently being used as a learning tool around the world with over 1200 copies sold. Sheila is also a contributing author in the recently published Seating and Wheeled Mobility: A Clinical Resource Guide. Sheila is known for her dynamic sessions which are enhanced by demonstrations of practical suggestions, as well as her compassion for clients and advancing her learning and skills to those with whom she works. 

Registration fees

Early bird rates: Registration and payment completed by March 26, 2025

Regular rates: Registration and payment completed after March 26, 2025

Registration deadline: May 29, 2025 at 11:59 a.m. (Eastern Time)

Please note that CAOT does not offer group registration fees.  

*It may be more cost effective to become a CAOT Member or Associate rather than pay the non-member rate. See “Can a non-member register for a Workshop?” in our Professional Development FAQs to know which membership category you are eligible for.

Included in your registration fee:

Online workshop, access to the recording for a period of 14 days following the workshop, electronic copy of presentation slide handouts, opportunity to network and make connections with other occupational therapists interested in this topic, electronic certificate of attendance.

Cancellation/refund policy

All cancellation/refund requests must be sent in writing to education@caot.ca. All cancellation requests received by April 30, 2025 will be given a full refund minus a $50.00 administrative fee. No refunds will be given after April 30, 2025. Substitutions and transfers requests received by April 30, 2025 are permitted and are subject to a $50.00 administrative fee. 

If you are exceptionally unable to complete the workshop, please reach out to education@caot.ca by 25 days following the end of the workshop for extended access to the recording (up to one month after the end of the workshop) or a one-time transfer to another offering of the  same workshop if currently open for registration.  CAOT reserves the right to modify the workshop title, description, registration dates and information on the workshop webpage. CAOT will notify participants on or before April 4, 2025 if there is insufficient registration by that date and reserves the right to cancel a Workshop due to insufficient registration up until April 18, 2025. CAOT reserves the right to modify the offering, interrupt Workshops, change the timing of a Workshop, cancel a Workshop or change the technology for the Workshop due to the presenter no longer being able to present the Workshop, severe weather, power failure, building closures or other special circumstances that are beyond the control of CAOT by notifying participants as soon as possible. If the Workshop is cancelled by CAOT, registrants will receive a full refund of the registration fee. CAOT will not be responsible for other costs or expenses incurred by registrants as a result of any such changes.

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Please note that workshop is offered in English.