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Wheelchair seat comfort for the institutionalized elderly
1University of Tennessee, Memphis, College of Medicine, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery 38163.
Assistive Technology : the Official Journal of RESNA
|December 10, 1990
Summary
This study investigated wheelchair seat comfort in nursing home residents, seeking quantifiable indicators. Results showed no clear link between pressure distribution and discomfort, highlighting a need for further research on effective cushion design.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Rehabilitation Engineering
- Biomechanics
Background:
- Wheelchair-related problems are common among institutionalized elderly individuals.
- Limited understanding exists regarding wheelchair seat comfort, particularly in nursing home settings.
- Addressing seat discomfort requires identifying quantifiable indicators of comfort.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify quantifiable indicators of wheelchair seat comfort.
- To investigate the relationship between seat comfort and peak sitting pressure, pressure distribution asymmetry, and cushion type.
Main Methods:
- Surveyed 50 nursing home residents on wheelchair seat comfort, usage, and functional/cognitive abilities.
- Measured peak sitting pressures and sitting posture parameters.
- Analyzed data for correlations between pressure metrics and self-reported comfort.
Main Results:
- Failed to identify robust, statistically significant indicators of seat comfort.
- Did not confirm that higher peak sitting pressures correlate with greater discomfort.
- Found no relationship between sitting pressure distribution asymmetry and reported discomfort.
Conclusions:
- Despite a lack of statistically significant findings, potential clinically useful seat comfort indicators were identified.
- Further research with larger sample sizes is needed to identify comfortable and pressure-relieving wheelchair cushions.
- The study underscores the complexity of wheelchair seat comfort in the elderly population.