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Custom-contoured seating from unloaded shape capture: A pilot study
1Pace University, Pleasantville, NY, 10570, USA.
Aims:
Traditional methods of shape-capture for creating custom-contoured seating have commonly consisted of capturing the buttocks in a loaded position. This study seeks to compare an innovative unloaded shape capture method to off-the-shelf pressure relieving cushions.
Materials And Methods:
The pressure redistribution and support characteristics of a cushion designed using an unloaded shape-capture method was compared to off-the-shelf pressure redistributing cushions. The methods of this pilot trial are described, and the outcomes are analyzed and summarized through descriptive statistics, including peak pressure index, average pressure, surface contact, quadrant distribution and perception of postural support.
Results:
A Wilcoxon signed-rank test was calculated to compare the mean difference in PPI between the unloaded shape-capture cushion among the other cushions. Differences in peak pressure between the unloaded shape capture cushion and off-the-shelf pressure relieving cushions were not significant, however there was a significant reduction in pressure between the unloaded shape-capture cushion and both sling seat and baseline non-contoured foam cushion (z = 2.673, p = .008).
Conclusion:
The unloaded shape-capture method results in a cushion with pressure redistribution characteristics similar to off-the-shelf pressure redistributing cushions while providing superior postural support. The unloaded shape-capture method appears to be a feasible alternative to traditional loaded methods and is worthy of further research.
