Mobile Arm Supports

The Mobile Arm Support (MAS) is the current accepted nomenclature for this assistive device that has also been known as a “ball bearing feeder” or “balanced forearm orthosis.”

Various types of Mobile Arm Supports have been documented since the 1930’s with major developments made in the 1950’s in response to the needs of patients afflicted with poliomyelitis.

Persons with limited motor control, paralysis or paresis may benefit from a Mobile Arm Support. The MAS requires a patient to only have minimal proximal movement (trunk, shoulder or chest) with the assistance of gravity to create significant distal arm motion in both the horizontal and vertical planes. The most common use is with spinal cord injuries however, patient’s with muscular dystrophy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, arthrogyposis and cerebral palsy can benefit from these devices.