Understanding the Special Tomato EIO Push Chair
The EIO Push Chair from Special Tomato® is big enough to fit an average 8-year old...But does it fit your child?
Finding special needs strollers that provide your child with the positioning and support that they require can be a daunting task. Many parents feel they need to see the adaptive equipment and test it before buying. At Adaptivemall.com, we understand and are here to help.
As a Physical Therapist, I know there are critical measurements to consider when choosing the right special needs stroller for your child. Below is a list of measurements to consider before purchasing the EIO Push Chair.
- Your child’s WEIGHT in pounds or kilograms. This is an important measurement because the Special Tomato EIO Push Chair has a maximum weight capacity of 90 lbs. (40.8 kg)
- Your child's Hip Width measured at the hip joint while seated. Measure a straight line straight across the lap. If you were to place two books on either side of the hips, measure straight between the two books instead of curving up and over the lap like a car seatbelt would. The Special Tomato EIO Push Chair has a seat width of 12" (30.5 cm).
- Your child’s Thigh Depth is also measured while seated. Make sure your child is sitting with his/her buttocks against the back of the seat. Measure a straight line (parallel with the seating surface) from where the buttocks contact the seat back to just behind the bent knee. The Special Tomato EIO Push Chair has a seat depth of 12" (30.5 cm). Note: Since the legrest is angle adjustable, children who have a thigh depth measurement of less than 12" (30.5 cm) can be accommodated in the EIO Push Chair.
- Your child’s Back Height to Shoulders is also measured while seated. Make sure your child is as far back as possible in the seat. Measure a straight line (parallel to the seat back surface) from where the buttocks contact the seating surface up to the top of the shoulders. The backrest height of the Special Tomato EIO Push Chair is 24" (61 cm).
- Your child’s Back Height to Top of Head is also measured while seated. Make sure your child is as far back as possible in the seat. Measure a straight line (parallel to the seat back surface) from where the buttocks contact the seating surface up to the top of the head. The backrest height of the Special Tomato EIO Push Chair is 24" (61 cm).
- Your child’s Foot to Knee Height is also measured while seated. Measure from the bottom of the shoe, up along the back of the leg to the back of the knee joint, where it is bent at 90 degrees. The seat to footplate height is 13" (33 cm).
If you would like to submit your child’s measurements online, then click here to access our Size Help Request Form. I will personally e-mail you to let you know if the Special Tomato EIO Push Chair fits your child.
With Patience and Understanding,
Melissa Richardson, PT, MS- Pediatric Physical Therapist
Product Consultant
Please understand that although I am a licensed physical therapist, I cannot act in the capacity of your professional therapist(s). An in-depth knowledge of your medical condition and abilities are required to make any final equipment recommendations. Your therapist(s) is best qualified for this reason. What I can do is work with you and your therapist(s) to help YOU make the best choice for your child’s needs.
Finding the right special needs pushchair to meet your child’s needs and fit your budget can be a daunting task. The market is flooded with very expensive, “over-engineered” adaptive pushchairs that can be complicated for families and caregivers to use. These pushchairs are necessary for some children with complex needs but not generally required for children with mild to moderate needs.
The Special Tomato EIO Push Chair offers many of the positioning features that other special needs pushchairs offer only as additional costly accessories, as standard features. Understanding support points in sitting will help you to understand the importance of these features as they impact posture.
EIO Standard Features
- Padded Hip and Trunk Lateral Supports that are removable. Many children with special needs require these additional side supports to help them maintain a well-aligned upright posture, but few special needs pushchairs offer them as standard.
- Height Adjustable Head Pad for added support and comfort. The headrest is especially useful when the back of the pushchair is reclined.
- Adjustable 5-Point Padded Chest Harness with Shoulder Pads ensures that once your child’s well-aligned position is achieved it can be comfortably secured. Trunk is held in midline with shoulders back.
- Padded 3-Point Locking Pelvic Belt ensures that once an optimal position of the pelvis is achieved it can be secured. Proper, stable positioning of the pelvis is the foundation of the seated posture. It is critical for children who have limited core strength or abnormalities in muscle tone.
- Angle Adjustable Foot Well with a 2-Position Foot-Block provides supportive lower extremity positioning. Leg rest angle adjustment moves from +15 degrees to -55 degrees. The fact that the leg rest can be fully extended is especially important when the recline function of the back is being used. The Foot-Block offers a surface area to rest the feet for younger, smaller children whose feet do not reach the base of the foot well. Lower extremity weight bearing through a foot flat resting position on a supportive surface helps to stabilize the seated posture.
- Back Rest Angle Adjusts from 25 Degrees to 75 Degrees of Recline. Adjusting the pushchair’s seat back into a greater angle of recline offers the child greater support and reduces their energy expenditure in sitting. This is especially important for children with decreased strength and endurance of postural muscles. The reclining back in combination with the elevating leg rests also provides full support for your child when napping or when diaper changes or other care is required.
Additional Postural Supports Available
If your child has postural support needs that you or your child’s therapist feel would not be met by the standard postural support features of the EIO Push Chair, adding even greater contoured support is easy. Special Tomato Soft Touch Seat and Back Liners as well as the Sitter are compatible with this pushchair!
- The Special Tomato Soft Touch Seat Liner is a comfortably contoured seat cushion molded to provide medial (inside) and lateral (outside) support for the thighs to help keep the hips and pelvis in a well aligned position. Offered in several sizes the Seat Liner is attached to the EIO Push Chair using attachment straps.
- The Special Tomato Soft Touch Back Liner is a comfortably contoured back cushion that supports the natural curvature of the spine. Back Liners have lateral (side) supports molded into the contour to help the user maintain a midline position. Cushions can be inverted (turned upside down) to raise or lower the height of the lateral support as needed. Offered in several sizes the Back Liner is attached to the EIO Push Chair using attachment straps.
Special Tomato Soft Touch Liners can also be attached to dining room chairs, restaurant chairs, classroom chairs and office chairs!
- The Special Tomato Soft Touch Sitter provides a contoured back that supports the natural curvature of the spine. Lateral trunk supports and head support (occipital ridge) are molded into the seat itself and will help the user maintain a well aligned upright position. The contoured seat is designed to allow the ischial tuberosities (ITs) commonly called “sit bones” to comfortably sink into the seat thereby creating the stable base required for the foundation of the seated posture. The contoured seat also includes a 15 degree ramped angle with built in abductor (pommel that separates legs). Both features ensure a well aligned hip position that discourages extensor thrusting. The Soft Touch Sitter can be attached to the EIO Push Chair, or any stable standard chair using attachment straps. It is also a portable postural support seating system that can be easily carried to anyplace you might need one.
Special Tomato Soft Touch Sitters can also be attached to dining room chairs, restaurant chairs, classroom chairs and office chairs!
Other Standard Features of the EIO
Proper postural support is paramount in a special needs pushchair. The EIO Push Chair, however, goes beyond providing excellent postural support for your child. With families and caregivers in mind other standard features are plentiful.
- pushchairSturdy, Stable, Lightweight Frame is easy to push and maneuver. Large, solid filled 9 in. front and 11 in. rear wheels with tread require no air and will not go flat! The swivel front wheels have a directional lock out feature (mechanism prevents front wheels from swiveling and allows only straight forward or straight back movement) which is helpful on rough terrain such as nature trails and grassy fields. On indoor or paved surfaces, the swivel front wheels enhance maneuverability. Rear spring suspension is another feature that ensures a smooth ride on rough terrain.
- Easy Fold for Transport and Storage- The EIO folds down compactly from front to back (clamshell style folding). It is not necessary to remove the wheels, but wheels can be removed for an even smaller folded footprint if desired. A Latch keeps the pushchair in the folded position as it is lifted into the trunk of a car or placed in storage.
- Angle Adjustable Push Handle ensures that adults of varying heights feel comfortable and secure while pushing the EIO.
- One Touch Rear Double Wheel Brake Lock is a simple convenience that also ensures safety. It’s so easy to apply the parking brake, it is a step that will not be overlooked when moving the child into and out of the pushchair.
- Shopping Basket comes standard with the EIO and provides a generous under the seat storage space to place items required for your child’s care or treasures that are found on your adventures.
- Water Bottle Pocket comes standard and makes keeping hydrated a breeze.
And last but certainly not least, the EIO Special Needs Push Chair comes standard with a Sun Canopy. Its generous dimensions protect your child from the elements come rain or shine. A window in the canopy allows for easy viewing. Canopy also comes complete with its own pocket for additional storage. The canopy can be folded back and out of the way when it is not in use, or it can also be entirely removed from the pushchair.
*A transparent Rain Cover for full rain protection is also available as an accessory for the EIO pushchair at an additional cost.
Proper Fit
The EIO Push Chair from Special Tomato is big enough to fit an average 8-year old...but does it fit your child?
Proper fit is critical for all adaptive equipment that offers postural support. The EIO Push Chair is ideal for children from early intervention to elementary school age. It accommodates children up to 90 lbs. (40.8 kg). As Physical Therapists, we know there are critical measurements to consider when choosing the right special needs pushchair for your child. Below is a list of measurements to consider before purchasing the EIO Push Chair.
- Your child’s WEIGHT in pounds or kilograms. This is an important measurement because the Special Tomato EIO Push Chair has a maximum weight capacity of 90 lbs. (40.8 kg)
- Your child's HIP WIDTH measured at the hip joint while seated. Measure a straight line straight across the lap. If you were to place two books on either side of the hips, measure straight between the two books instead of curving up and over the lap like a car seatbelt would. The Special Tomato EIO Push Chair has a seat width of 12" (30.5 cm).
- Your child’s THIGH DEPTH is also measured while seated. Make sure your child is sitting with his/her buttocks against the back of the seat. Measure a straight line (parallel with the seating surface) from where the buttocks contact the seat back to just behind the bent knee. The Special Tomato EIO Push Chair has a seat depth of 12" (30.5 cm). Note: Since the leg rest is angle adjustable, children who have a thigh depth measurement of less than 12" (30.5 cm) can be accommodated in the EIO Push Chair.
- Your child’s BACK HEIGHT to SHOULDERS is also measured while seated. Make sure your child is as far back as possible in the seat. Measure a straight line (parallel to the seat back surface) from where the buttocks contact the seating surface up to the top of the shoulders. The backrest height of the Special Tomato EIO Push Chair is 24" (61 cm).
- Your child’s BACK HEIGHT to TOP of HEAD is also measured while seated. Make sure your child is as far back as possible in the seat. Measure a straight line (parallel to the seat back surface) from where the buttocks contact the seating surface up to the top of the head. The backrest height of the Special Tomato EIO Push Chair is 24" (61 cm).
- Your child’s FOOT to KNEE HEIGHT is also measured while seated. Measure from the bottom of the shoe, up along the back of the leg to the back of the knee joint, where it is bent at 90 degrees. The seat to footplate height is 13" (33 cm).
If you would like to submit your child’s measurements online and have one of our therapists assist you with determining if the EIO will be a good fit for your child, Click Here to access our Size Help Request Form.
Sometimes parents feel they need to see the adaptive equipment they are purchasing, put their child in it and test it. At Adaptivemall.com, we understand and are happy to offer a Return Policy for just this purpose.
The more you understand about the Special Tomato EIO Push Chair, the easier it is to see its unparalleled value.
With Patience and Understanding,
Becky Orsini, PT, Pediatric Physical Therapist
Product Specialist
Melissa Richardson, PT, MS- Pediatric Physical Therapist
Product Consultant
Please understand that although we are licensed physical therapists, we cannot act in the capacity of your professional therapist(s). An in-depth knowledge of your child’s medical condition and abilities are required to make any final equipment recommendations. Your therapist(s) is best qualified for this reason. What we can do is work with you and your therapist(s) to help YOU make the best choice for your child’s needs.
