The attenuating effect of a dynamic cushion on the development of leg edema in wheelchair users with spinal cord injuries

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Prolonged wheelchair sitting is known to lead to venous stasis and results in leg edema.

OBJECTIVE:

To clarify how a dynamic cushion affects leg edema in people with spinal cord injuries (SCI) evoked by wheelchair sitting, we measured the changes in leg volume induced during wheelchair sitting with a dynamic air cushion or a static cushion.

METHODS:

Seven wheelchair users with SCI participated in this study. Leg edema during wheelchair sitting was evaluated with strain gauge plethysmography (the gauge was placed 10 cm proximally from the medial malleolus). Following a period of rest, the subjects sat on a reclining wheelchair containing a dynamic cushion for 15 min. Then, the protocol was repeated with a static cushion. The above two procedures were performed in a random order. These data were statistically compared between the two procedures.

RESULTS:

The change in leg volume observed during sitting on the dynamic cushion ( $-$ 0.02 $\pm$ 0.21 ml/100 ml) was smaller than that observed during sitting on the static cushion (0.18 $\pm$ 0.28 ml/100 ml) ( $P<$ 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS:

These results suggested that the dynamic air cushion relieved leg edema induced by wheelchair sitting in individuals with SCI.