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Use of weight-bearing MRI for evaluating wheelchair cushions based on internal soft-tissue deformations under ischial tuberosities.
- Source :
-
Journal of Rehabilitation Research & Development . 2010, Vol. 47 Issue 1, p31-42. 12p. 1 Color Photograph, 1 Black and White Photograph, 1 Diagram, 3 Charts, 2 Graphs. - Publication Year :
- 2010
-
Abstract
- Deep tissue injury (DTI) is a severe type of pressure ulcer, in which damage initiates under intact skin, in soft tissues that are mechanically deformed by load-bearing bony prominences. Sitting-acquired DTI typically occurs in the gluteus muscles that could sustain deformations by the weight-bearing ischial tuberosities (ITs). No clinical method currently exists for measuring internal tissue deformations; so design and selection of wheelchair cushions are based mostly on meas-uring sitting pressures. Our objective was to evaluate the influence of different commercial cushions on internal soft-tissue deformations under the ITs, using weight-bearing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). We specifically compared muscle, superficial fat, and effective (muscle and fat together) tissue deformations while subjects (n = 10) sat on four cushions (two viscoelastic and two foam) and directly on a rigid support. Deformations were maximal in muscle tissue (mean ∼70%), twice more the amount than in fat (∼30%). Effective soft-tissue deformations were ∼50% to ∼60%. Although cushions mildly reduced muscle deformations in the order of 10%, theoretically, our interpretation suggests that this deformation level adds safe sitting time. This study demonstrated that weight-bearing MRI is applicable for evaluating wheelchair cushions and, in the future, may be a tool to systematically support cushion design and selection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 07487711
- Volume :
- 47
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- Journal of Rehabilitation Research & Development
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 49116819
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1682/JRRD.2009.07.0105