Medictur.ru
For a person who spends much of their time in bed, an appropriate pressure-redistributing mattress can help reduce prolonged loading on vulnerable areas of the body. Selecting a surface for pressure ulcer prevention, or to support care of an existing ulcer, begins with assessment of the person’s needs and an individual care plan.
Types of mattress
Pressure-redistributing surfaces include static, sometimes called passive, mattresses and active or dynamic systems. Static mattresses should not be excluded simply because a person cannot move independently. NICE guidance on pressure ulcers recommends high-specification foam mattresses for adults at high risk in community care and for adults with pressure ulcers, with a dynamic surface considered when foam does not redistribute pressure sufficiently.
The original article cites diabetes, excess body weight and soreness at mattress contact points after sleep as examples of concerns to consider. These factors deserve assessment rather than an automatic choice of a passive or active mattress.
The active air mattresses described in the overview use a pump and fall into two design groups:
- Small-cell or honeycomb mattresses, with a pattern of individual air cells.
- Tubular-cell mattresses, with larger inflatable sections running across the mattress.
In the small-cell design described, cells are arranged in a chequerboard pattern and groups alternate as the pump operates. Tubular systems also vary pressure between groups of cells. The precise cell arrangement, cycle and operating modes depend on the model.
Choosing an appropriate mattress
Consider the person’s body weight, ability to move or reposition themselves, existing pressure ulcers and their severity, coexisting illnesses, injuries and any complications. These factors help the healthcare professional identify a suitable support surface and check the particular model’s specifications.
The original overview associates small-cell mattresses with people of normal body weight who retain some mobility and have little or no existing ulceration. It presents tubular designs as options for more complex situations, including paralysis, limited mobility with excess body weight, and existing pressure ulcers of varying severity. These are not fixed clinical rules: cell shape or body weight alone is insufficient to determine the right mattress.
A clinician can assess the person’s condition and recommend a suitable model as part of their care plan. Existing pressure ulcers require assessment and care beyond the choice of mattress; neither design guarantees healing.
How an active mattress works
The pump supplies air to groups of cells, which inflate and deflate in programmed cycles. This changes where and how pressure is applied, reducing prolonged loading on the same areas. The aim is pressure redistribution, rather than a guarantee of restored tissue blood flow. As explained by Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust, dynamic mattresses support pressure-area care and do not replace repositioning or ongoing clinical assessment.
Some systems also provide airflow or low-air-loss features. Sweat, warmth and moisture at the skin–mattress interface affect the local microclimate, and these features can help manage heat and moisture. They should not be described as stopping sweating or preventing every pressure ulcer. When comparing models, check the pump’s operating modes and the airflow features actually provided, as these vary between systems.
Original source: Zaplata — Choosing an active pressure-relieving mattress.
