Medictur.ru
Spending prolonged periods in bed can increase the risk of pressure ulcers, also known as pressure sores. The risk is greater when paralysis or illness prevents a person from changing position independently. An appropriate mattress can help redistribute pressure, but preventing skin damage also requires an individual care plan.
Finding ways to reduce the risk
Regular repositioning is an important part of pressure-ulcer prevention. The original article raises three concerns about relying on repositioning alone:
- Providing support 24 hours a day can be demanding. A person who cannot change position independently may need help from carers or nursing staff.
- Some conditions require particular care when moving someone. Serious injuries or burns may affect how repositioning is carried out. The clinical team should assess safe handling and any restrictions; this does not mean that all movement should be avoided.
- Friction can remain a concern. The source suggests that rubbing against surfaces makes ulcers inevitable. This is inaccurate: pressure ulcers are not an unavoidable outcome, and appropriate prevention can reduce the risk.
People recovering from a stroke, heart attack or injury may therefore need a suitable pressure-redistributing surface alongside other care. Manufacturers offer passive, or non-powered, mattresses and active, or dynamic, systems.
The source presents passive mattresses mainly as a preventive option for people without excess body weight who can still get out of bed. That is too narrow a distinction. A suitable high-specification foam mattress may also be used for someone with very limited mobility or an existing pressure ulcer. Selection depends on the person’s assessed needs and the product’s specifications, rather than mobility or body weight alone.
Active mattresses use a pump to operate their air-cell system. An appropriately specified model may be suitable for a person with paralysis or a higher body weight, provided its dimensions and weight range are appropriate. It may also form part of care for an existing ulcer. It is not a guaranteed cure or a replacement for repositioning. NICE guidance on pressure ulcers recommends high-specification foam for adults with an ulcer and consideration of a dynamic surface when this does not redistribute pressure sufficiently.
Prevention, assessment and addressing contributing factors
Pressure ulcers do not develop in every person confined to bed, and the absence of a specialist mattress does not make them inevitable. Risk and the speed at which skin damage develops vary. The original overview highlights five practical factors to consider:
- the person’s body weight, including its relevance to mattress fit and the manufacturer’s weight limits;
- ambient humidity, as part of the conditions around the skin;
- perspiration and moisture;
- skin folds, which may need attention during skin care and inspection;
- the texture and stiffness of bed linen and clothing, which can affect friction and comfort.
These points do not replace a clinical risk assessment. Early changes may include persistent discolouration, unusual warmth, a change in skin firmness, pain or itching. As the NHS explains, discolouration may look red on white skin or purple or blue on black or brown skin. Itching alone is not a diagnosis, and ulcers do not all follow a fixed progression from redness to a deep wound. Skin damage can develop quickly; an untreated ulcer may extend into deeper tissues.
A healthcare professional should help select an appropriate mattress and plan repositioning. The original article suggests turning a person with limited mobility every 2–3 hours. This is a figure from that source, rather than a universal schedule: the person’s clinical condition, skin assessment and support surface should inform the individual care plan and documented repositioning frequency.
Everyday care also includes changing bed linen when needed, keeping it clean and dry, changing continence pads promptly, regular washing and checking skin where the body rests against a surface. Changes that suggest pressure damage should be assessed by a healthcare professional.
Pressure-relieving mattresses may be used in hospitals and at home. Pump noise varies by model and installation. An alternating-pressure pump should remain operating while its mattress is in use, including overnight, in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. The original advice to switch it off at night and rely on daytime operation should not be followed. For example, the Aspire Active Air 8 user manual says the connected pump must not be switched off or unplugged during use. If noise disrupts sleep, ask the supplier or clinical team to check the system and consider an appropriate solution.
Seek specialist advice before choosing a mattress so that the support surface and its use match the person’s needs.
Original source: Zaplata — Pressure-relieving mattresses for people confined to bed.
