My son Mattias has severe scoliosis caused by CP.  In 2004 he was diagnosed to have spine fusion surgery to avoid collapse of his torso.  Disagreeing with the approach of using bone fusion for the treatment of a neuromuscular impairment, and seeing him attempt to sit erect during Hippotherapy, I came up with the idea of a seating system that would transfer the benefits of Hippotherapy (Therapeutic horseback riding) into his wheelchair system.

These pictures show Mattias sitting on a flat surface  and on a breadboard of the seating system.  The pictures are taken in immediate succession and show how the system encourages the sitter to assume a well balanced posture unconsciously.  During the entire time the sitter is actively engaging the core muscles along the spine through micromovements leading to greater core endurance and a healthier lower back.  The effect of the approach is dramatically different from sitting on a ball, since it successfully engages the sensory motor integration part of the human central nervous system.

After successful initial testing of the concept using "breadboards" cut out of plywood, I started working with Ben and Sandy at K & K Industries on the development of a sheet metal prototype that would actually fit into Mattias' wheelchair.  Tests with early models were so successful that we now have created an entire line of seating systems including chairs, stools and wheelchair seat inserts.  In addition to helping my son avoid spine surgery, the seating system has turned out to be beneficial for the treatment of low back pain, since it delivers core strengthening exercises while being seated and being productive.

Ben and Sandy were extremely helpful when it came to turnaround times and pricing.  They delivered excellent service on very short notice and were always willing to help out when I needed something fast to test a different configuration, as is typical for a prototyping environment.

In summary, K & K Industries was instrumental in helping me take a "wild eyed idea" into product and now into a company, CoreWerks, which is delivering a unique solution to a vast problem of modern society, Lower Back Pain.

- Horst Schaaf, D. Sc  Founder and President, CoreWerks Inc.   http://www.corewerks.com/ 

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