Abstract
Purpose
This purpose was to investigate developed seat-cover assemblies’ effect on decreasing the fluctuation of the shear force exerted onto the buttocks as the factors causing decubitus ulcers when the back-support was inclined.
Materials and Methods
The participants were 10 wheelchair users. The force plate was used to measure the horizontal force as the shear force. The back-support was inclined at increasing angles, starting from the upright position (IUP), then proceeding to a fully reclined position (FRP), and returning to the upright position (RUP). The experimental conditions were two conditions; the seat-cover assembly conditions and without the seat-cover assembly as the control conditions.
Results
The average values in the seat-cover assembly condition were 14.4 ± 3.3, 13.9 ± 2.3, and 17.3 ± 3.3% body weight in the IUP, FRP, and RUP, respectively. The average values in the control condition were 14.8 ± 2.6, 11.4 ± 1.7, and 24.0 ± 6.7% body weight in the IUP, FRP, and RUP, respectively. In the FUP and the RUP, there were significant differences between two conditions (p < .01).
Conclusion
These results suggested that the shear force exerted onto the buttocks may to be decreased by using novel seat-cover assembly.
It is possible to decrease the fluctuations in the shear force by moving the body up and down according the novel seat-cover assembly attached the back-support incline.
Disabled, older individuals can be provided with a comfortable life on a reclining wheelchair while preventing decubitus ulcers.
Implications for rehabilitation
Disclosure statement
The sponsor of this study had no control over the interpretation, writing, or publication of this work.