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Seating-Related Pressure Injury Prevention in Spinal Cord Injury: a Review of Compensatory Technologies to Improve In-Seat Movement Behavior

  • Rehabilitation Technology (BE Dicianno, Section Editor)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

The purpose of this review was to (1) assess the factors related to the occurrence of pressure injuries in people with a spinal cord injury (SCI), (2) review methods of pressure injury prevention, and (3) examine compensatory technologies developed to promote in-seat movement to reduce the risk of pressure injuries.

Recent Findings

Risk factors for seating-related pressure injuries are well documented, yet ulceration remains a daily concern for individuals with SCI. While prompts and alarms have been shown to be effective at increasing in-seat movement, the devices thus far were not designed for long-term use. Wheelchair users will benefit from continued development of novel technologies designed to help them self-manage pressure injury prevention.

Summary

Optimized feedback about pressure and movement will help wheelchair users with SCI perform more effective movements to relieve pressure, perform movements more frequently and consistently, and maintain effective and frequent movement behaviors over time while feedback is available.

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Acknowledgements

This publication was made possible by funding the National Institutes of Health (R21 AG050640-01).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA

    Tamara L. Vos-Draper

  2. Rehabilitation Medicine Research Center, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA

    Tamara L. Vos-Draper & Melissa M. B. Morrow

  3. Division of Health Care Policy and Research, Department of Health Sciences Research, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA

    Melissa M. B. Morrow

  4. Robert D. and Patricia E. Kern Center for the Science of Health Care Delivery, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA

    Melissa M. B. Morrow

Authors
  1. Tamara L. Vos-Draper
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  2. Melissa M. B. Morrow
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Correspondence to Melissa M. B. Morrow.

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Conflict of Interest

Tamara L. Vos-Draper and Melissa M. B. Morrow declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Human and Animal Rights and Informed Consent

This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

Funding

This publication was made possible by funding the National Institutes of Health (R21 AG050640–01).

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Rehabilitation Technology

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Vos-Draper, T.L., Morrow, M.M.B. Seating-Related Pressure Injury Prevention in Spinal Cord Injury: a Review of Compensatory Technologies to Improve In-Seat Movement Behavior. Curr Phys Med Rehabil Rep 4, 320–328 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40141-016-0140-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40141-016-0140-7

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