x:panda
Specialist R82 x:panda paediatric seat delivers better
quality of life for 7-year-old Taylor with Cerebral Palsy
Taylor Miller, 7, from Castlewood in Coventry, who lives with Cerebral Palsy
(CP), uses an R82 x:panda chair – launched in 2007 and now the biggest
selling modular seat worldwide. The x:panda is suitable for various conditions
but particularly to children with CP. The patented dynamic system is helpful for
children who struggle to maintain position during involuntary extension. The chair
provides contoured support to the spine and maintains pelvic position in
neutral alignment.
Taylor, a friendly and happy youngster, lives with
parents, Laura and Daniel, and two brothers,
Lennon, 18 months and Mckenzie, age 12.
The family moved two years ago to a specialist
accessible bungalow provided by The Housing
Association. Having recently extended, they now
have the necessary space and layout to suit a
child with disabilities. Taylor is located in a room
next to his parents at night, with a ceiling track in
the bedroom and bathroom, and enough room
for a ceiling track hoist and specialist adjustable
cot. Vitally, there is space for Taylor’s adaptable
and bespoke x:panda chair on a High-low frame
which ensures ideal support for a growing child
and allows Taylor to be properly seated. Based
on the original R82 Panda chair, the x:panda
concentrates on optimal pelvic positioning, aligning
the spine and correct articulation at the hip.
R82, a knowledgeable, caring company with a
technical and experienced team, are passionate
about the benefits of the x:panda for the user.
Research shows incorrect positioning can lead
to long term health issues, such as curvature of
the spine and exacerbated breathing difficulties.
As the x:panda is very adaptable, it can be easily
configured to each child and can be adjusted for
growth in depth, width and back height as well
as accommodating individual leg positioning. It
is available in four sizes, from 6 months to young
adult. The x:panda features tilt in space, recline
and a dynamic back that can help children who
might typically have pelvic issues, hip migration
and tight hamstrings.
For mum Laura, the past seven years have meant
tackling the unknown and dealing with frustrating
situations to ensure the family receive the best
equipment and advice for Taylor’s growing needs
and requirements. She admits it has been difficult
especially when caring for two other children,
her husband at work, and having lost her mother
suddenly in May 2014.
Taylor who was born prematurely at 23 weeks
in June 2008 and weighed a mere 1lb 5oz,
spent his first 121 days in the neonatal unit at
University Hospital, Coventry. He was diagnosed
with CP at a year old after failing to reach
childhood milestones. He also suffers with
chronic lung disease following ventilation at
birth, for which he takes regular medication and
inhalers. Taylor is currently on Baclofen for his CP
and the next stage will be Botox.
Taylor attends Castleford School, an all-spectral
school, recommended to best suit his needs and
Laura Miller says the school has been a life-line.
Meeting other parents in similar situations has
for Taylor to have a fixed position for feeding and
for transport allowing him to sit with his preferred
hip angle. Following the successful assessment,
Laura provided Wheelchair Services with video
evidence proving the x:panda was ideal for Taylor’s
requirements and was given the go ahead for
funding.
meant accessing new advice and help and the
weekly parent coffee meetings have provided
vital social support. Laura explains: “Taylor
benefits from the school routine and can become
very unsettled without it. We feel fortunate that
Castleford offers extra holiday sessions if desired.
The school also provides physio once a week, takes
Taylor swimming which he loves, as well as bowling,
cycling and trips to the cinema.”
Taylor, who is very sociable and loves his friends,
is collected daily by the school bus in his outdoor
x:panda chair which is lifted onto the school bus
and clamped down. Laura’s Occupational Therapist
recommended the x:panda following concerns
that Taylor appeared squashed in the basic rigid
back chair provided by Wheelchair Services. Laura
contacted specialist manufacturers R82 who
arranged to assess Taylor in an x:panda specially
configured to his needs. It was immediately
obvious that Taylor was more comfortable. The
x:panda provided a seating position that he could
tolerate happily and supported him in a correctly
aligned position. As Taylor likes to push back, the
x:panda’s dynamic back made it possible for him to
extend against relatively light resistance and then
regain the desired seating position. Importantly,
the x:panda helps Taylor to move without
compromising hip position. The x:panda backrest
can be locked in position. This makes it possible
Laura says R82 have been “fantastic with help
and advice offered”. As well as providing premium
technical equipment, R82 will work alongside
a child’s therapist to determine the optimum
prescription for equipment. R82 is available to
support assessments for Taylor in his chair as he
grows. The x:panda is a modular system which
means accessories can easily be added. Foot
straps have already been added to give Taylor
a more stable foot position. The company also
conveniently service Taylor’s chair at school,
meaning Laura is not required to be there or
arrange for her son to miss school.
The family are delighted with the new chair as
Laura explains: “Taylor’s muscle tone fluctuates
and he cannot sit unaided at all, so requires
adult support if playing on the floor for instance.
The x:panda benefits by providing necessary
support and is adapted easily to match his
growth– meaning we can keep using the seat
for longer. After using the x:panda for some
time, Taylor now has better control over his core
stability. His breathing has improved and he has
been discharged from his chest consultant. He
can happily sit in comfort to watch his favourite
programmes on TV and we can now go out as a
family for meals and on outings.”
After using the x:panda for some time, Taylor now
has better control over his core stability.
R82 and Etac
R82 UK Ltd is an Etac Group company supplying R82, Etac, Molift, Immedia
and Convaid branded products in the UK and Ireland from a head office base in
Halesowen, Birmingham. The extensive range of high quality assistive products
for disabled children and adults includes wheelchairs, buggies, standing,
walking, toileting and bathing aids as well as manual and mechanical transfer
aids. Sales and distribution of these products is supported with service and
repair back up from a base in Basingstoke.
The parent company Etac AB is based in Stockholm, Sweden with manufacturing
sites across Scandinavia. The Etac Group has a truly global reach with further
subsidiary companies in the USA, Europe, Far East and Australia. The most
recent acquisition of US buggy manufacturer Convaid has further strengthened
the Etac Group’s product portfolio worldwide.
R82 UK Ltd.
Unit D4A, Coombswood Business Park, East Coombswood Way, Halesowen, West Midlands. B62 8BH
Tel. 0121 561 2222 / Fax. 0121 559 5437 / Email: [email protected] / www.R82.co.uk
© R82 UK Ltd. March 2016