3
2. POSITIONING THE CHILD
With
•
NESSIE
in place at floor level children can be
positioned for therapy and play.
Adjustments
•
to the width of NESSIE can be done by simply
moving NESSIE’s “arms” until the required position is achieved.
Children
•
can be placed securely into many positions along NESSIE’s
profiled
contours, with the most common options shown below:
Supine ‘Lying on your back’ (Fig.2a)
Placing
•
children into Supine is the most stable
position.
Supine
•
position supports physical development
through strengthening neck, tummy, shoulder
and hip flexors as children have to lift head,
arms and legs up against gravity.
The
•
hips in flexion reduces the chance of
extensor thrust.
Supports
•
sensory development as this is the
position in which it is easiest for children to focus their eyes.
Encourages
•
hand / feet exploration and hands to mid line.
Prone ‘Tummy Time’ (Fig.2b)
Tummy
•
Time supports physical development
by strengthening neck, shoulders, arms and
back, and is an important foundation for the
transition to sitting via side lying / side sitting.
Is
•
the precursor for rolling, and is a position
supported by all child development workers.
e.g. health visitors and physiotherapists.
Long Sitting (Fig.2c)
Important
•
part of child development,
encouraging head control, hands to midline
and reaching for toys.
NESSIE’s
•
unique ‘BUMPS’ encourage
transverse weight bearing through arms and
shoulders.
Fig.2a
Fig.2c
Fig.2b