Wheelchair Rockers:Purpose

About Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral Palsy (CP) is a neurological disability that limits a person’s movement, balance, and posture. It is one of the most common motor disabilities, affecting, on average, 2-3 live births per 1000 in the U.S. Among those with CP, approximately ⅔ will require some form of motor aid, and 7.8% will require a wheelchair.

Cerebral palsy affects between 765,000 -1 million people in the U.S and can be separated into various subtypes by symptoms. Athetoid CP, also known as dyskinetic CP, is a subtype of CP and makes up between 10-15% of CP cases. It is characterized by involuntary muscle contractions and spasms that lead to repetitive, jerky movements.

Wheelchairs are important for those with athetoid CP as they can aid the user in both mobility and communication, allowing users to be more independent. Oftentimes, however, the needs of wheelchair users with athetoid CP are not adequately addressed. Because people with athetoid CP experience involuntary movements of their limbs, their wheelchair components have to endure repeated multidirectional forces. Currently, many manufacturers use a one-size-fits-all approach to produce wheelchair components that lack the required durability.

Our Goal

At Wheelchair Rockers, we aim to design an affordable, high-quality headrest that is tailored to the specific needs of users with athetoid CP by:

• Working closely with clients to understand and address their specific needs
• Creating custom designs to address individual needs and preferences
• Carefully selecting materials to produce durable, high-quality products
• Thoroughly testing our designs for safety and performance