Is dynamic seating a modality worth considering in the prevention of pressure ulcers?

Assessing evidence supporting redistribution of pressure for pressure ulcer prevention: A review

“…In part, this is the result of a funding decision in the United States by the Ce nters for Me dicare and Medic aid Services to not pay for powered wheelchair cushions for PU prevention. Evidence on commercially available a ctive cushions is limited to seco ndary outcomes [16,23]. Because the secondary measurements vary throughout the cycle of ac tive cushions, the results of such studies are hard to apply clinically.…”

Evaluating the impact of WaterCell ® Technology on pressure redistribution and comfort/discomfort of adults with limited mobility

“…In There was no correlation found using SPSS v22 Pearson's Moment Correlation between comfort/discomfort intensity ratings and the pressure redistribution variables (PPI, Average pressure and area) across the chairs. Comfort/discomfort is a major factor for people when they decide whether to use a pressure redistributing device or not (Stockton and Rithalia 2008). These findings would suggest that from the mean DIR 14.17 and GDA Scores 33.92, the three trial chairs were not reported to be uncomfortable and therefore found to be comfortable for the 12 participants.…”

“…This includes equipment such as cushions and chairs with varying properties such as gel, air pockets, memory foam, flotation type cells, or a combination (National Institute of Health Care Excellence [NICE], 2014; Stockton and Rithalia, 2008). Currently, WaterCell® technology is comparable in cost to similar devices commercially available.…”

“…Currently, WaterCell® technology is comparable in cost to similar devices commercially available. Despite this equipment being readily available to the healthcare professional to prescribe and the end user to utilise, NICE (2014) and Stockton and Rithalia (2008) have recognised a dearth of evidence on the efficacy of seating equipment. Not only is there a lack of evidence to support the prescription of such equipment, there is also limited evidence in regards to end user collaboration in both design and evaluation (Geyer et al 2003;Crane and Hobson 2002).…”

“…In other fields such as ergonomics, the motor industry has successfully collaborated with end users to develop effective and comfortable seating (Rutter, Becka and Jenkins 1997). Prior studies that have noted the importance of comfort/discomfort in seating (Stockton and Rithalia 2008;Crane and Hobson 2002) found that inappropriate seating can affect the ability to carry out functional activities, ultimately leading to pain, and 'equipment abandonment' (Crane and Hobson 2002, pg1). Discomfort may not always be verbalised by end users as they wish to be seen as compliant.…”