Customized Cushions For Wheelchairs Could Prevent Pressure Ulcers
Patients who use wheelchairs for long periods of time suffer from broken skin ulcers from time to time due to their skin's constant contact with the synthetic material products of the wheelchair, such as friction and pressure. Over time, pressure ulcers can become a chronic condition, allowing for skin infections or additional damage. The International Journal of Biomedical Engineering and Technology has taken notice of this problem and is actively seeking solutions for wheelchair users to alleviate their suffering.
Sivasankar Arumugam, Rajesh Ranganathan and T. Ravi of the Coimbatore Institute of Technology, India, point out that every wheelchair user is different, with different body shapes, weights, postures and different mobility problems. Therefore, a single answer to pressure sore problems is not feasible if all wheelchair users are to be helped. Their study of a group of volunteer users showed that, based on pressure measurements, each user needs to be individually tailored to reduce the shear and frictional forces that lead to pressure sores.
Wheelchair patients who sit for long periods of time are at risk of developing pressure ulcers due to a range of health issues such as spinal cord injury (SCI), paraplegia, quadriplegia and quadriplegia. When seated, approximately three-quarters of a person's total body weight is dist