Lying down on the job: Supported Lying with MSWA Occupational Therapists
Don’t let gravity get you down.
Gravity works every minute of every day.
Humans are instinctively driven to alter their posture to offset its relentless force.
Uncomfortable from sitting in an office chair too long? We adjust our backrest, take a stroll to the coffee machine and even participate in questionable ‘office yoga’.
Ever woken up in the middle of the night and found yourself on a different side of the bed to where you started? Some repositioning is so subconscious, we even do it in our sleep!
The able-bodied individual is afforded the privilege of constant and autonomous postural variation to achieve optimal comfort, avoid pain and prevent injury.
However, for some individuals, regular or independent movement isn’t always possible.
This is when gravity seizes its opportunity.
What is Supported Lying?
‘Supported Lying’ (often termed 24-hour positioning or sleep positioning) can be defined as postural care which is gentle and respectful in order to protect and restore a person’s body shape against the forces of gravity.
If Clients are left unsupported over a period of time, it can lead to destructive body postures.
| The bad news? | The good news? |
|---|---|
| Without intervention, these destructive body postures can become fixed and impact the musculoskeletal, neurological, respiratory and digestive systems. Additionally, altered postures can impact functional tasks such as toileting, dressing and communication, as well as affect sensory perception, self-image, learning, sleep and mood. | The body is a mobile structure, so whilst it is susceptible to distortion, with the correct positioning, it can be restored to its most neutral position or prevent destructive postures from worsening. Therefore, supporting the body in symmetrical lying (preferably on the back) is vital for those individuals who would otherwise be left to become static in destructive lying postures. |
How can MSWA Occupational Therapists help?
Occupational therapists use a multi-disciplinary approach and consider a person’s daily life across the full 24 hours. At MSWA, OTs follow their Clients through their journey and assist them in maintaining functional independence.
Clients can be supported in a great seating system with postural supports which consider alignment, pressure and function. However, the duration of time spent in bed far outweighs time spent in seating systems. It should be considered that if a Client has these supports in sitting, they may also benefit from supported lying.
Once referred, the Supported Lying OT team will:
- Complete a review and assessment
- Determine suitability for the service
- Understand why/how a Client’s postures impacts their body
- Create customised intervention plans recommending equipment and positioning techniques
- Provide comprehensive training and education for implementation of supported lying systems to family and support workers
- Provide ongoing education, review and follow-up
Ask your MSWA Occupational Therapist today about how we can support you or someone you know with supported lying.
We are looking forward to helping you combat the effects of gravity!
