The study of pressure distribution in sitting position on cushions for patient with SCI (Spinal Cord Injury)

Author

Tanimoto, Yoshio ; Takechi, Hideo ; Nagahata, Hidekazu ; Yamamoto, Hideki

Author_Institution

Kibikogen Rehabilitation Center for Employment Injuries, Okayama, Japan

Volume

47

Issue

5

fYear

1998

fDate

10/1/1998 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

1239

Lastpage

1243

Abstract

Pressure sore is a serious problem for patients with spinal cord injuries (SCI). Many kinds of pressure-relieving cushions have been developed to distribute the weigh evenly and widely. We measured the buttock pressure distribution on five kinds of wheelchair cushions in six SCI patients using the Tekscan pressure measurement system. We calculated total weight, high-pressure area, and maximum and average pressure to evaluate the function of the cushions. As for pressure distribution, the air cushion is the best of the five cushions. In the air cushion, the maximum pressure is influenced by the total weight, contact area, and the quantity of air in the cushion. Further, we measured the buttock pressure distribution on the air cushion in 13 SCI patients. The maximum pressure is one of the most important parameters in the adjustment of the air quantity in the air cushion. After using the multiple regression analysis, it has been shown that the maximum pressure is influenced by both the total weight and the total area

Keywords

biomechanics; biomedical measurement; patient diagnosis; pressure measurement; SCI patient; Tekscan pressure measurement system; air cushion; buttock pressure sore; multiple regression analysis; pressure distribution; pressure relieving cushion; sitting position; spinal cord injury; wheelchair cushion; Buttocks; Creep; Helium; Lymphatic system; Pressure measurement; Regression analysis; Sensor phenomena and characterization; Spinal cord; Spinal cord injury; Wheelchairs;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Instrumentation and Measurement, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9456

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/19.746590

Filename

746590