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The effects of body mass index on peak seat-interface pressure of institutionalized elderly
Thomas W Kernozek1, Patricia A Wilder, Alissa Amundson
1Physical Therapy Department, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, Health Science Center, La Crosse, WI 54601, USA. kernozek.thom@uwlax.edu
Objective:
To determine if body mass index (BMI) influenced seat-interface pressure in a population of institutionalized elderly.
Design:
A cross-sectional comparison of peak seat-interface pressure in 4 groups of institutionalized elderly was compared with BMI scores defined as either thin (<20 kg/m(2)), desirable range (20-24.9 kg/m(2)), grade I obesity (25-29.9 kg/m(2)), or grade II obesity (30-40 kg/m(2)).
Setting:
Several small nursing homes and a university in a small urban community.
Participants:
A convenience sample of 75 individuals (age range, 65-95 y) living in 1 of 3 skilled nursing facilities.
Interventions:
Not applicable.
Main Outcome Measures:
The Novel Pliance seat pressure-mapping system was used to collect seat-interface pressure data. Each participant was asked to sit in the wheelchair for up to 10 minutes while the seat-interface pressures were recorded. Body weight and height of each participant were obtained from the medical chart; these characteristics were then used to calculate a BMI for each participant.
Results:
A 1-way analysis of variance on the peak seat-interface pressures revealed significant differences between the 4 groups (P<.05). Post hoc comparisons showed differences in peak seat-interface pressure between the thin and desirable range groups (P<.05), the thin and grade I obesity group (P<.05), and the thin and grade II obesity groups (P<.05). Differences in peak seat-interface pressure decreased as BMI increased.
Conclusions:
The results are consistent with the results of a previous study of individuals with spinal cord injuries. In the current study, peak seat-interface pressure was highest in the thin elderly group, which had the lowest BMI levels of any of the 4 groups. Differences in the peak seat-interface pressures were less as BMI increased.