Mobile Arm Supports: History, Application, and Work in Progress

Abstract

Mobile arm supports (MASs) have evolved over many years, enabling users with upper extremity weakness to achieve some success with daily functions including tabletop activities, self-feeding, and wheelchair control. Even though the MAS can be extremely helpful for a wide variety of individuals, including users with spinal cord injury and muscle disease, its application has been limited by the complexity of fitting and the extensive therapist and caregiver training required to adjust the device for individual users. Added drawbacks have been the awkward appearance of the MAS and lateral protrusion, which makes doorway clearance and obstacle avoidance difficult while driving. The Rancho Los Amigos Rehabilitation Engineering Program has conducted research and has developed design innovations to address many of these problems; the program has created an updated MAS that is more attractive, is of lower profile, and is friendly to user, caregiver, and clinician. Updated training programs to introduce the MAS technology, to provide fitting practice, and to explain its best utilization to clinicians have complemented these changes.