Dynamic Forehead Support for Pediatric Wheelchair Head Positioning
Short Summary
A dynamic forehead support that gently assists children with poor head control in maintaining an upright, midline head position while seated in a wheelchair without restricting movement.
Owner
AshbashandEzzy
Primary User
The primary user is a two-year-old child with spastic dyskinetic quadriplegic cerebral palsy. He has significant trunk and neck hypotonia with poor head control but benefits from opportunities to actively strengthen these muscles.
Intended Use
The device would be used every day while my son is seated in his pediatric wheelchair at home, school, therapy appointments, medical visits, and in the community. Maintaining a more upright head position would improve his ability to interact with others, use eye gaze and communication devices, participate in therapy, and visually explore his environment while reducing fatigue. Safety is the highest priority. The device should never suspend the child by the head or place pressure on the neck, airway, or spine. It should simply provide gentle assistance that helps overcome gravity.
Description
My two-year-old son has spastic dyskinetic quadriplegic cerebral palsy with significant trunk and neck weakness. His wheelchair provides excellent support for his trunk and body, but his head consistently falls forward because he lacks the strength to maintain an upright position for long periods.
I'm looking for a dynamic support system that mounts to the wheelchair headrest and connects to a soft, padded forehead band. Instead of rigidly holding his head in place, the system would provide gentle upward assistance when his head begins to fall forward. The goal is to reduce the effort required to hold his head upright while still allowing him to actively move his head in every direction.
The support should:
Mount to an existing pediatric wheelchair headrest.
Use a comfortable padded forehead band.
Provide adjustable upward assistance using elastic, spring, or other flexible mechanisms.
Allow free turning and normal movement of the head.
Include a quick-release or breakaway safety feature.
Be lightweight, washable, and easy for caregivers to install and remove.
Be adjustable as the child grows.
Traditional headrests only support the head after it has fallen backward, while cervical collars are too restrictive and limit functional movement. This design would provide gentle assistance only when needed, encouraging active head control rather than replacing it.
The attached photos show the type of forward head posture we're trying to address.
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