Which headrest is used when a patient tends to maintain a hyperextended head/neck position in upright sitting?

• A. Planar posterior head rest (flat)
• B. Curved headrest
• C. Sling back
• D. Planar back insert

Answer: (A)

To stop a head that tends to tilt backward in upright sitting, you want a headrest that provides firm posterior support to limit extension. A planar posterior headrest is flat and positioned behind the head, creating a stable contact surface that acts as a stop to backward tipping. This keeps the head in a neutral alignment with the spine without encouraging further bending forward or into a different position.

A curved headrest, by contrast, cradles the head and can guide the occiput in ways that don’t specifically prevent hyperextension, potentially allowing more backward movement. The sling back focuses on trunk support rather than placing a stop behind the head, so it doesn’t directly address head extension. A planar back insert is part of the back support and doesn’t provide direct posterior head contact to limit hyperextension.