Accepted for/Published in: JMIR Rehabilitation and Assistive Technologies
Date Submitted: Nov 10, 2024
Open Peer Review Period: Nov 25, 2024 - Jan 20, 2025
Date Accepted: Mar 25, 2025
(closed for review but you can still tweet)
Warning: This is an author submission that is not peer-reviewed or edited. Preprints - unless they show as "accepted" - should not be relied on to guide clinical practice or health-related behavior and should not be reported in news media as established information.
Custom-Contoured Cushion Fabrication Method Based on Pressure Mapping. A Pilot Study
ABSTRACT
Background:
Pressure ulcers (PU) are a severe health problem with social and health repercussions. Wheelchair users are susceptible to developing PU, so they shall use a cushion to relieve pressure, distribute weight evenly, and increase the contact area. Pressure-relieving cushions at affordable prices are still a need. Custom-contoured cushions were developed using map pressure to address this need.
Objective:
The objectives of this study were to (1) develop a methodology to manufacture custom-contoured cushions and (2) evaluate the cushion's performance compared with commercial cushions relating to pressure relief.
Methods:
First, a validation study was carried out with seven no-wheelchair users. The pressure was determined using an FSA sensor (BodiTrak BT1510), and the cushion profile was obtained through a linear relation. In the second phase, ten cushions for wheelchair users were manufactured and tested. The resulting data from buttock pressure using a flat foam, Jay® X2 (gel-foam), ROHO® HP (air), and customed-contoured cushions was analyzed and compared using the following four variables: peak pressure (PP), peak pressure index (PPI), mean pressure (MP), and contact area (CA).
Results:
In the validation study, the statistically significant difference (P <0.001) between the flat and the contoured cushion showed a better performance in pressure relief for the custom cushion. Regarding the study with wheelchair users, contoured cushions had lower PP (91.3 (36.0) mmHg), PPI (69.5 (33.7) mmHg), and MP (34.2 (17.4) mmHg) against flat, Jay® X2, and ROHO® HP cushions (P <0.005). The CA (1457.6 (254.1) cm2) was greater for the contoured cushion (P <0.001) than for flat and ROHO cushions; nevertheless, it was not significantly different from Jay X2 (P=0.595).
Conclusions:
The performance of custom-contoured cushions was tested and compared against a flat foam and two commercial cushions. The main finding is that the method of mapping buttock pressure produces low-cost custom-contoured cushions as an efficient pressure relief solution to prevent the development of ulcer pressure.
Citation
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