A Case Study on helping Ethan and his family enjoy an active outdoor lifestyle with Mountain Trike & FormAlign seating.
For families caring for a child with profound physical and medical needs, accessing the outdoors can present significant practical challenges.
For Elliot and Heidi, parents to three young children, finding a mobility solution that would allow their family to enjoy an active lifestyle together was a priority. Living in the South West of the UK, Elliot and Heidi have three children: Ethan, aged 8, Arthur, aged 6, and Sofia, aged 3.
Ethan has a diagnosis of quadriplegic cerebral palsy, alongside chronic lung disease requiring regular suctioning and supplemental oxygen. He experiences approximately ten seizures each day, is fed via a PEG tube and is non-verbal.
Ethan requires a wheelchair for all mobility and significant postural support to maintain a comfortable, upright position. When he becomes uncomfortable, his stress levels can increase, which in turn can significantly increase his muscle tone. Ensuring that Ethan is comfortable, well supported and appropriately positioned is therefore fundamental to his wellbeing.
The Challenge
Before contacting Adaptiv Mobility, Ethan was using a Snappi wheelbase with a CAPS2 seating system. While this provided a means of mobility, it was not enabling Ethan and his family to enjoy the active lifestyle they wanted.
The limitations of the buggy and the discomfort associated with the seating system meant that accessing more challenging outdoor environments was difficult. Beaches, green spaces, campsites and other off-road locations could be particularly challenging, creating a significant barrier to the family being able to participate in activities together. The family already had a wheelchair-accessible vehicle and were looking for a mobility solution that would allow Ethan to travel with the rest of his family and safely access outdoor environments.
Importantly, they needed a system that would provide Ethan with appropriate postural support and comfort while also offering the off-road capability required for their lifestyle.
The Starting Point
A Bespoke Assessment
Ethan and his family were assessed by our Specialist Occupational Therapist Steve, who has extensive professional and lived experience in posture, mobility and seating.
Following a detailed assessment of Ethan’s physical, postural and mobility requirements, as well as the families lifestyle and aspirations, Steve recommended the Mountain Trike Push with electrical assist.
The Mountain Trike Push provided the combination of stability, manoeuvrability and off-road capability that Ethan’s family required.
The electrical assist would also enable the family to negotiate more challenging terrain without the physical demands that would otherwise be associated with pushing Ethan over uneven ground, grass, gravel and other outdoor surfaces.
However, the mobility base was only one part of the solution. It was essential that Ethan could be positioned securely and comfortably while using the equipment.
Postural Support
Developing The Seating Solution
To provide Ethan with the necessary postural support, Formalign postural seating was fitted to the Mountain Trike Push.
The seating configuration included:
- Dreamline adjustable backrest
- Lateral supports
- Headrest
- Chest harness
- Four-point pelvic belt
- Dreamline Contour cushion
- Ankle huggers
This combination was designed to provide Ethan with a high level of postural support while maintaining comfort and stability when travelling over uneven and unpredictable terrain.
For Ethan, appropriate positioning was particularly important. Maintaining a stable and comfortable seated position helps reduce the likelihood of discomfort, which can otherwise contribute to increased stress and muscle tone.
The Final Solution
For The Whole Family
A key part of the assessment process was ensuring that the proposed equipment worked not only for Ethan, but for the whole family.
Ethan and his family were able to trial the Mountain Trike Push and seating system in the green spaces surrounding the Adaptiv Mobility showroom.
This allowed them to experience how the equipment performed over different surfaces and to establish whether it provided the required level of comfort, support and manoeuvrability.
The family were also able to assess how easily the Mountain Trike Push could be transported in their wheelchair-accessible vehicle. This was particularly important because the equipment needed to be transported alongside the rest of the family and used as part of their normal family activities.
The Mountain Trike Push is crash tested, providing an important additional consideration for a family who need to transport Ethan securely in their vehicle.
The Essential Details
Bespoke Oxygen Solution
Because Ethan requires supplemental oxygen, Adaptiv Mobility also needed to consider how his oxygen cylinder could be safely and practically transported with him.
Rather than this becoming another barrier to accessing the outdoors, Adaptiv Mobility developed a bespoke solution for mounting and attaching Ethan’s oxygen bottle to the Mountain Trike Push.
This was fitted as part of the handover, creating an integrated solution that allowed Ethan’s essential medical equipment to travel with him.
Funding Support
Once the appropriate equipment had been identified and trialled, Elliot and Heidi approached a number of charities for financial assistance. The family successfully received funding support from Help the Child and the Fashion and Textile Children’s Trust, the latter being particularly relevant due to Elliot’s previous employment within the retail sector.
The support from these charitable organisations enabled the family to proceed with the equipment that had been identified as being appropriate for Ethan’s needs.
The Outcome
The Mountain Trike Push was handed over to the family with the Formalign seating system individually adjusted and configured for Ethan with the difference it has made to his, and the families lives has been significant.
Ethan is now able to access outdoor environments with his family in a way that was previously difficult. The family have already been camping and are able to explore outdoor spaces with Ethan, knowing that he is appropriately supported, comfortable and secure.
Perhaps most significantly, the new seating system has provided such a substantial improvement in Ethan’s comfort that he now spends the majority of his time in the Mountain Trike Push. His previous Snappi buggy is no longer able to provide the same level of comfort and support. For Elliot, Heidi and their three children, the equipment has helped remove a major barrier to family life.
“We now have one less barrier and our world is a lot more accessible, it has made life so much better for us as a family”
Conclusion
Ethan’s case demonstrates the importance of looking beyond a conventional wheelchair prescription and considering the whole family, their environment, lifestyle and aspirations.
The successful outcome was achieved through a combination of appropriate clinical assessment, specialist postural seating, an off-road mobility base, electrical assistance, vehicle compatibility and a bespoke solution for transporting essential medical equipment. For Ethan, the result has been improved comfort, postural support and access to the outdoors.
For Elliot, Heidi, Arthur, Sofia and Ethan, it has provided something equally important: the opportunity to participate in family adventures together.
The Mountain Trike Push with Formalign seating has helped transform outdoor access from a significant challenge into something the family can now enjoy together – from green spaces and beaches to camping trips and exploring the wider countryside.
One less barrier. A more accessible world. And more opportunities for the whole family to enjoy life together.
