In a laboratory setting, interface pressures of 29 cushions and a sheepskin were measured on 20 healthy volunteers. Each participant was seated in an upright posture with their back against the back of the chair, hands resting on the lap, knees bent at an angle of 90 degrees, and feet resting on the floor. Only 13 cushions had any pressure-reducing effect. Gel cushions and sheepskins appear to have no pressure-reducing effect. The category of foam includes both cushions that reduce interface pressure very well and cushions that increase interface pressure. The lowest interface pressures were measured on air cushions and on some foam cushions.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Bader, D. L. (1990). The recovery characteristics of soft tissues following repeated loading. Journal of Rehabilitation Research and Development, 27, 141-150.
2.
Bader, D. L. , & Hawken, M. B. (1990). Ischial pressure distribution under the seated person. In D. L. Bader (Ed.), Pressure sores: Clinical practice and scientific approach (pp. 223-233). London: MacMillan.
3.
Bakker, H. (1992). Herziening consensus decubitus [Revision of pressure ulcer consensus]Utrecht: Centraal Begeleidingsorgaan Voor de Intercollegiale Toesting.
4.
Barbenel, J. C. , Jordan, M. M., Nichol, S. M., & Clark, M. O. (1977). Incidence of pressure-sores in the Greater Glasgow Health Board area. Lancet, II, 548-550.
5.
Bennett, L. , & Lee, B. Y. (1985). Pressure versus shear in pressure causation. In B. Y. Lee (Ed.), Chronic ulcers of the skin (pp. 39-56). New York: McGraw-Hill.
6.
Blaylock, B. (1994). Measuring tissue interface pressures of two support surfaces used in the operating room. Ostomy/Wound Management, 40, 42-48.
7.
Bliss, M. R. (1993). Aetiology of pressure ulcers. Reviews in Clinical Gerontology, (3), 379-397.
8.
Burman, P. M. (1993). Using pressure measurements to evaluate different technologies. Decubitus, 6, 38-42.
9.
Burman, P. M. (1994). Measuring pressure. Journal of Wound Care, 3, 83-86.
10.
Cherry, G. W. , & Ryan, T. J. (1997). Pathofysiology. In L. C. Parish, J. A. Witkowski, & J. T. Crissey (Eds.), The decubitus ulcer in clinical practice (pp. 33-43). Berlin, Germany: Springer.
11.
Defloor, T. (1999). The risk of pressure ulcers: A conceptual scheme. The Journal of Clinical Nursing, 8, 206-216.
12.
Denne, W. A. (1981). The “hammock” effect in wheelchair cushion covers. Paraplegia, 19(1), 38-42.
13.
Fisher, S. V. , Szymke, T. E., Apte, S. Y., & Kosiak, M. (1978). Wheelchair cushion effect on skin temperature. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 59, 68-72.
14.
Garber, S. L. , & Dyerly, L. R. (1991). Wheelchair cushions for persons with spinal cord injury: An update. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 45, 550-554.
15.
Garber, S. L. , Krouskop, T. A., & Carter, R. E. (1978). A system for clinically evaluating wheel-chair pressure-relief cushions. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 32(9), 565-570.
16.
Horsley, J. A. , Crane, J., Haller, K. B., & Bingle, J. D. (1981). Preventing pressure ulcers: CURN project. New York: Grune & Stratton.
17.
Iaizzo, P. A. , Kveen, G. L., Kokate, J. Y., Leland, K. J., Hansen, G. L., & Sparrow, E. M. (1995). Prevention of pressure ulcers by focal cooling: Histological assessment in a porcine model. Wounds, 7(5), 161-169.
18.
Isenberg, J. S. , Ozuner, G., & Restifo, R. J. (1995). The natural history of pressure sores in a community hospital environment. Annals of Plastic Surgery, 35(4), 361-365.
19.
Jakobsen, J. , & Christensen, K. S. (1987). Transcutaneous oxygen tension measurement over the sacrum on various anti-decubitus mattresses. Danish Medical Bulletin, 34, 330-331.
20.
Kosiak, M. (1959). Etiology and pathology of ischemic ulcers. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 40, 61-69.
21.
Krouskop, T. A. , Williams, R., Noble, P., & Brown, J. (1986). Inflation pressure effect on performance of air-filled wheelchair cushions. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 67, 126-128.
22.
Landis, E. (1930). Microinjection studies of capillary blood pressure in human skin. Heart, 15, 209-228.
23.
Maklebust, J. , & Sieggreen, M. (1996). Pressure ulcers: Guidelines for prevention and nursing management (2nd ed.). West Dundee, IL: S-N.
24.
McLeod, A. G. (1997). Principles of alternating pressure surfaces. Advanced Wound Care, 10(7), 30-36.
25.
Meijer, J. H. , Germs, P. H., Schneider, H., & Ribbe, M. W. (1994). Susceptibility to decubitus ulcer formation. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 75, 318-323.
26.
Park, C. A. (1992). Activity positioning and ischial tuberosity pressure: A pilot study. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 46, 904-909.
27.
Pinzur, M. S. , Schumacher, D., Reddy, N., Osterman, H., Havey, R., & Patwardin, A. (1991). Preventing heel ulcers: A comparison of prophylactic body-support systems. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 72, 508-510.
28.
Reswick, J. B. , & Rogers, J. (1976). Experience at Rancho los Amigos Hospital with devices and techniques to prevent pressure sores. In R. M. Kenedi, J. M. Cowden, & J. T. Scales (Eds.), Bedsore biomechanics (pp. 301-310). Baltimore, MD: University Park Press.
29.
Rosenthal, M. J. , Felton, R. M., Hileman, D. L., Lee, M., Friedman, M., & Navach, J. H. (1996). A wheelchair cushion designed to redistribute sites of sitting pressure. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 77(3), 278-282.
30.
Souther, S. G. , Carr, S. D., & Vistnes, L. M. (1974). Wheelchair cushions to reduce pressure under bony prominences. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 55(10), 460-464.
Staarink, H.A.M. (1995). Sitting posture, comfort and pressure: Assessing the quality of wheel-chair cushions. Delft, the Netherlands: Technische Universiteit Delft.
33.
Stewart, S. F. , Palmieri, V., & Cochran, G. V. (1980). Wheelchair cushion effect on skin temperature, heat flux, and relative humidity. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 61(5), 229-233.
34.
Stewart, T. P. (1997). Support systems. In L. C. Parish, J. A. Witkowski, & J. T. Crissey (Eds.), The decubitus ulcer in clinical practice (pp. 145-168). Berlin, Germany: Springer.
35.
Tang, S. (1991). Seat cushions. In J. G. Webster (Ed.), Prevention of pressure sores: Engineering and clinical aspects (pp. 56-74). Bristol, England: Adam Hilger.
36.
Tsay, D. (1991). Pressure distribution in tissue. In J. G. Webster (Ed.), Prevention of pressure sores: Engineering and clinical aspects (pp. 19-34). Bristol, England: Adam Hilger.
37.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services . (1992). Pressure ulcers in adults: Prediction and prevention (AHCPR Publication No. 92-0047). Rockville, MD: Author.
38.
Willems, P. (1995). Het drukreducerend effect van schuimrubber matrassen [The pressure-reducing effect of foam mattresses]. Niet-gepubliceerde Eindverhandeling. K. U. Leuven, Belgium.
