Design of Equipment for Sleep Positioning of Children with Cerebral Palsy

Children with cerebral palsy (CP) may have musculoskeletal disorder due to inappropriate position during sleep. The aim of this study was to design the equipment for sleep positioning of children with CP. This research was a designing device study for sleep positioning of children with CP. The design was carried out in three stages: needs assessment, develop an idea and final design. Seventeen children with CP aged 2-12 year olds at the levels of III to V Gross Motor Function Classification System Expanded and Revised (GMFCSE&R) were recruited from Tehran and Karaj rehabilitation clinics by a convenience sampling strategy. For data collection, some demographic questionnaire and GMFCS E&R were used. Ethical Considerations: This study was approved in Research Ethics Committee of Faculty of Applied Arts at Tehran University of Art with the code IR. ART U.REC.1394.118. In the process of needs assessment, a researcher made questionnaire and pictures of sleep positioning children with CP when they were sleeping were used. In developing an idea stage, the free and creative ideas under the name of black box, as well as, Etudes at the transparency stage were presented as the combination of creative ideas. In the final design stage, by using superior materials, positioning and packaging, we achieved a superior design. The proposed plan is designed as an interventional tool based on the need of Iranian children with CP and there is no similar national or international device available. The final design of the sleeping equipment includes a set of mattresses and a variety of modular styling devices based on a family centered approach, so that, allow parents to active engagement during sleep and rest of their children and can help the children to assume the proper positions.