How Do Everyday Life Activities Affect Seating Pressure Measurements?

Background: Pressure measurements to detect risks for pressure injuries in wheelchair users with spinal cord injury (SCI) have been available for quite some time. Unfortunately, knowledge of how postural changes during longer periods of daily life activity affecting the results is still limited. In the present study, the authors expected to note shifts in the center of pressure as well as in the pressure distribution, especially in patients who were able to change their position actively.

Methods: A seat pressure mat (BodiTrak2) was used to perform measurements of 34 SCI wheelchair users after initial transfer into the wheelchair as well as 30 and 90 minutes later. Mean pressure, maximum pressure, pressure-loaded measuring surface, and the coordinates of the center of pressure were analyzed, and findings were statistically analyzed using the t test and Intraclass Correlation Coefficient. To quantify the drift of the measurement system, recordings with a reference weight were performed.

Results: The analyzed parameters from the initial measurement differed significantly from the later measurements at 30 and 90 minutes, whereas the parameters were stable after 30 minutes. The measurements with the reference weight showed the same measurement course.

Conclusions: The measurements after 30 and 90 minutes were consistent, contrary to expectations. The activity of the participant between measurements did not appear to be of much importance.

Clinical relevance: Relief maneuvers appear to provide relief only while the maneuver is being performed. Thus, relief activities must be frequent enough and long enough to allow adequate blood flow to the tissues.