The Positioning-Mobility Clinic

The majority of clients served are children and teenagers under the age of 21 years, who have different postural and functional impairments.

The objective for the attribution of an orthosis, prosthesis, wheelchair or postural aid is to compensate for the disability, or to prevent or reduce situations of handicap. The Positioning-Mobility Clinic’s team works toward compensating for the different postural disabilities by making recommendations and attributing technical aids that will:

Favour Psychomotor development

A postural aid allows the client to be seated in a comfortable position while fostering his/her motor skills development. The design of the seat takes into account muscle tone, state of the spinal column, skin sensitivity, etc. The aid allows for proper body alignment in a manner in which the use of the upper limb is optimized for specific activities such as eating, writing or using a communication device.

Allow for safe and independent travel

Wheel bases such as adapted strollers and manual or motorized wheelchairs are provided. They are recommended as means of transportation for daycares or outings. When the child begins school, a manual or motorized wheelchair is often recommended so that the child can get around independently.

Enable the client to move into a standing position

A standing board (supine stander) allows children, who are unable to move into a standing position without assistance, to change position. It also helps develop their tolerance in maintaining a standing position, keeping the muscles and joints supple while stimulating bone growth.

Services provided to clients:

• Individual consultations and recommendations;
• Design and production of postural aids;
• Technical aids attribution, adjustment and advising;
• Training on how to correctly use the technical aid;
• Clinical follow-ups;
• Additional expertise (bed positioning, choice of car seat and examination of pressure points to prevent the onset of soars).

Equipment and accessories are attributed according to the following criteria:

• The child’s particular needs,
• Home environment and accessibility,
• Social participation (school, employment, etc.),
• Security, weight of the equipment,
• Esthetics

The occupational therapist recommends wheel bases as well as different accessories. A list of available wheelchairs and strollers makes it easy to choose the most appropriate adaptation. The occupational therapist can also recommend a special access mode for conducting a motorized wheelchair, if required. The physiotherapist recommends standing boards, walkers and adapted bicycles, and takes part in assessments and attributions of postural aids.

Services provided to partners and other establishments:

• Clinical support for children and teenagers with very complex conditions;
• Complete technical aid design, production, attribution and adjustment services;
• Service centre locations

Our primary partners are the children and their families. In order to meet their needs, the Centre has a partnership with the RAMQ, the main paying agency for technical aids.
Other contributing partners include: prescribing doctors, rehabilitation centres for physical and developmental disabilities, regional university hospital centres, health and social services centres, schools, the War Amps Association, the SAAQ, IVAC, etc.

The Centre also works concertedly with universities and research establishments in the area of technological development and advancement.
 

Referrals must be sent by a doctor, occupational therapist or physiotherapist.
Technical aids are recommended when anomalies are found in the musculoskeletal system such as:

• Abnormal muscle tone or reflexes that trigger the inability to maintain a sitting or standing position;
• A progressive neuromuscular disease;
• An injury to the spinal column such as paraplegia;

All other diseases or conditions listed in the RAMQ’s eligibility criteria.

At the Centre de réadaptation Marie Enfant 

• Monday to Friday
  from 8 am to 4 pm (Intake)
  Some services are provided as of 7 am until 5 pm by appointment only
• Saturday (by appointment only) from 9 am to 5 pm for planter orthoses

Technical Aids Department at the CHU Sainte-Justine

• Monday to Friday
  from 8 am to 4 pm

• École Victor-Doré (Montréal)
• École secondaire Joseph-Charbonneau (Montréal)
• École Jean-Piaget (Laval)
• École Peter-Hall Ouimet
• École Peter-Hall St-Laurent
• CHU Sainte-Justine
• Centre de réadaptation MAB-Mackay