Wheelchair Seating: Peak Pressure Distribution in Young versus Elderly Healthy Controls - Open Journal of Therapy and Rehabilitation

OJTR > Vol.7 No.2, May 2019

Wheelchair Seating: Peak Pressure Distribution in Young versus Elderly Healthy Controls ()

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Download as PDF (Size: 419KB) PP. 25-34

DOI: 10.4236/ojtr.2019.72003 847 Downloads 1,814 Views Citations

Author(s)

Marina Timm^1*, Kersti Samuelsson²

Affiliation(s)

¹Center of Assistive Devices, County Council, Skövde, Sweden.
²Department of Rehabilitation Medicine and Department of Medical and Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.

ABSTRACT

Background: People may use a wheelchair when they need assistance with mobility. Some users have to remain seated in their wheelchair for most of their awake time and for a lot of activities. The need for a well fitted and supportive wheelchair is important and, for those who use the wheelchair for many hours, peak pressure distribution is of interest to prevent pressure ulcers and discomfort. Aim: To describe how high local peak pressures may be distributed over risk areas for pressure ulcers in different wheelchair settings. Methods: Two groups of healthy adults were recruited (40 elderly and 30 younger individuals). Two standard models of manual wheelchairs were used together with two types of wheelchair cushions. Results: The elderly group had a higher peak pressure over the ischial tuberosity and increased posterior pelvic rotation in the shaped seat cushion. Both groups had higher peak pressure over the trochanter in the shaped seat cushion. Peak pressure was also higher over the coccyx for the elderly in the shaped seat cushion compared with the plain cushion; this was lower for the younger group. Discussion: The results indicate that age might influence the important physical prerequisites when fitting a wheelchair to an individual.

KEYWORDS

Age, Interface Pressure, Pressure Ulcers, Prevention

Share and Cite:

Timm, M. and Samuelsson, K. (2019) Wheelchair Seating: Peak Pressure Distribution in Young versus Elderly Healthy Controls. Open Journal of Therapy and Rehabilitation, 7, 25-34. doi: 10.4236/ojtr.2019.72003.

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