Efficient Measurements during Seating Evaluations

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Answer

Yes, there are five of the anatomical measurements that can be performed in succession without removing the actual tape from the individual.  See measurements FGHJL in the figure below.  You will need an assistant who can write down measurements as you call them out.  Start with the beginning of the measuring tape resting on the client’s seat and extend the tape up to the top of their head to obtain the "seat to top of head" measurement.  Next, keep the beginning of the tape resting on the seat and move the top of the tape down to the occiput at the base of the skull to obtain the "seat to occiput" measurement.  Then you can take the "seat to top of shoulder" measurement by sliding the tape to the acromion process.  You will then take the "seat to the inferior angle” of the scapula measurement.  Be careful with this measurement as you may need to palpate or ask the client to extend their humerus to cause the scapula to wing to find out where that inferior angle is.  Still with the beginning of the measuring tape on the client’s seat, the final measurement is the "seat to the top of the iliac crest.”  You can go through those five measurements fairly quickly by not moving the beginning of the tape and just starting at the top of the head, then sliding the tape down to the occiput, to the shoulder, the scapula, and the iliac crest.  This strategy is helpful in terms of efficiency due to faster measuring, but also less human error.  By minimizing the number of times you apply and reapply the measuring tape, the risk for human error will be reduced also.

Editor’s note: This Ask the Expert was adapted from the course, ‘Performing a Successful Seating and Mobility Evaluation’ that is available in text, video and audio course formats.