Who Can Benefit From Using Therapy Wedges, Rolls and Bolsters?
Both children and adults who need to improve head control and proximal stability can find some help with a wedge, while anyone who requires an increased tolerance to a prone position may also benefit. Additionally, any individual who has to spend a lot of time in bed will find great support from these wedges and bolsters for more comfortable positional changes.
Therapists often use wedges and rolls for a variety of applications with different patients. They help to facilitate easier manipulation and procedures and can be used for chiropractic, massage, physical therapy, gross and fine motor activities, muscle re-education and rehab, to enhance balance and flexibility, myofascial release and exercise/fitness.
What Type of Therapy Wedge, Roll or Bolster is Right for Me?
Therapy wedges, bolsters, rolls and blocks come in a varied assortment of sizes, shapes and styles to accommodate unique and special requirements. The right choice will be determined by your own individual goals for this specialized equipment. Discerning therapy goals along with comfort and support goals will result in finding the perfect wedge or roll for your health and well-being, or for the health and well-being of your patients.
For patients who require extra positioning and support in a bed, sofa or chair, lateral wedges are a great choice. Easier to position and shape than regular pillows, soft lateral positioning wedges can help prevent bedsores and pain caused by bony prominence pressure points.
Sacral blocks are commonly utilized for various chiropractic techniques and generally feature nonskid materials that prevent the blocks from slipping out of place.
Offering versatility for the widest range of therapy and comfort applications, foam rolls are the perfect tool for pediatric, adult and geriatric patients. Ideal for assisting with posture, balance, ranging, strengthening and coordination activities, foam rolls can be used for muscle re-education, body awareness and spinal stabilization.
Leg, knee, thigh, torso, and arm wedges and pillows help to provide specialized support for individual parts of the body to facilitate comfortable and perfect positioning for every unique and special need.
Support pillows give great support for an assortment of positioning requirements, easing stiffness, aches and tension. Support pillows are generally smaller and can be more easily used while traveling for extra support behind the neck, back or knees.
Hulet Smith, OT
Rehabmart Co-Founder & CEO
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