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Innovative pressure cushions are critical to patient care and well-being. According to Mayo Clinic, pressure sores–also known as pressure ulcers or bed sores–damage the skin and the tissue underneath.
If you have a medical condition that prevents you from moving or changing positions, this increases your risk.
This blog will explore pressure sores, the types of pressure cushions you can use to alleviate pain, and why they are critical to your rehabilitation journey.
A pressure cushion is designed to reduce pressure points that can develop from prolonged periods of sitting. It distributes the user’s body weight over a large surface area, reducing the risk of pressure sores.
These cushions are often used by wheelchair users, people with limited mobility, elderly, postoperative patients, or people with injuries. A doctor, physiotherapist, or occupational therapist prescribes pressure cushions in clinical settings.
Pressure sores form on bony parts of the body, such as the hips, elbows, heels, and tailbone. You may have a pressure ulcer if you have discoloured patches of skin that don’t change colour, a patch of skin that feels spongey, hard, or warm, or pain and itchiness in the affected area. These can develop gradually over a few hours.
A pressure sore is caused by pressure or rubbing the skin. You have a higher chance of getting one if you have limited movement, have had one before, are in intensive care from illness, are underweight, have swollen, sweaty, or broken skin, have poor circulation, or have issues feeling sensations.
Treatment depends on the severity. Moving regularly or changing positions can relieve pressure on ulcers and prevent new ones from forming.
Common treatments include specially designed mattresses or cushions, dressings to protect the ulcer, creams and ointments, antibiotics for infection, cleaning the ulcer, or surgery in more severe cases.
How do you know if a pressure cushion is right for your ongoing treatment? The right cushion will depend on the user and their needs. Let’s look at what you should consider.
Pressure care cushions are made from various materials (such as containing air, gel, foam, water, and polymers), and the most suitable material will vary for everyone. If you doubt, always consult your healthcare professional for a recommendation.
Pressure cushions come in many shapes and sizes, and all must be carefully considered. The wrong type can increase the user’s risk, and a cushion that is too large can transfer or increase pressure to other body parts when seated, including the lower legs or behind the knees.
Parts of the pressure cushion can be customised depending on the user’s needs. Air pressure can be adjusted inside the cells, or a waterproof cover can be added if the user has continence concerns.
Pay attention to the weight capacity in all pressure care cushions and choose the appropriate product. For example, the EquaGel cushion has a wide range of weight capacities to suit extended periods.
Whether you’re coping with a sudden injury post-surgery or have limited mobility during daily activities, you’ll have different levels of pressure risk. Before choosing a pressure care cushion, consult your medical professional so they can determine the level of risk, suggest strategies to mitigate this, and support you with the most appropriate pressure cushion.
Let’s have a look at medical pressure cushions and how they can benefit different patients.
EquaGel is a dry polymer gel that is almost rubbery to the touch. Compared to other medical cushions, it is easy to maintain and offers unbelievable tensile strength. EquaGel’s compression strength and durability make it a top choice for healthcare professionals.
The EquaGel General is 5.08cm (2 inches) of patented EquaGel with a 1.90cm (0.75″) trochanter that is bucket-sculpted for stability and comfort.
The basic key features include:
In-depth, comprehensive features of EquaGel include:
What is column-buckling technology? Referring to how EquaGel acts underweight, the gel’s wall buckles into the hollow area between walls and passes weight to the surrounding walls for support. With this technology, a patient of any weight or shape will not “hit bottom” like other cushioning technologies.
Pressure Mapping Testing shows the pressure difference, reading a pattern of excellence for EquaGel cushions. Compared to a premium brand, the adjustable air cushion shows superior performance. EquaGel shows 12.4% lower average pressure, 14.3% lower peak pressure, and up to 5.3% greater weight distribution area.
EquaGel pressure relief cushions come with two different pelvic contour inserts that can increase the amount of therapeutic gel under the pelvis.
These gel contour inserts are slipped into the fabric pocket inside the cover beneath the gel.
As adjustable protectors, these EquaGel Replace Covers are a zippered cover for your protector/adjustable EquaGel cushion. The available sizes are as follows:
The EquaGel Bariatric Adjustable Protector is available in 71cmW x 41cmD (28” W x 16” D), protecting the EquaGel pressure cushion.
With this pressure care cushion, hard wooden chairs can feel comfortable. Their thicker grid creates a plush experience for the user, and the non-slip design with an anti-slip bottom keeps the cushion in place. The Purple Back Cushion is also excellent for back lumbar support.
This seat cushion is easy to clean, includes a built-in handle, and supports a 5-6 hour sit time.
Whatever you decide you need for Pressure Care and Comfort, many options are available.
Established in 1978, Access Health supplies the best to healthcare professionals. As a major supplier for Daily Living and Mobility, Patient Handling, Practice Supplies, Trolleys, Cart, IV, and Shelving, we offer you the best in patient care. If you’re looking for a quality pressure care cushion, our flagship product is the EquaGel pressure cushion for superior health support.
Certified to the International Quality Standard (Quality Approved ISO 9001), we always pride ourselves on going that little bit further to locate the product you need if we do not have it in stock.
Contact us today for a quote or recommendation.
Disclaimer: Access Health is not qualified to agree or deny whether this content is correct. For accurate information, consult your medical professional or provider.
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