Written by Brittany Ferri, OTR/L
A pressure ulcer, also known as a bedsore or a pressure sore, is a debilitating issue that complicates someone’s health and quality-of-life. This can be especially difficult for wheelchair users, since they are at a greater risk of developing pressure ulcers due to the amount of time they spend sitting.
Whether you are the one with an ulcer or you’re a caregiver to people who have struggled with them, it’s important to know preventive measures that can help avoid ulcers or better manage existing ones. The good news is that there are a range of products designed to relieve the pressure exerted on someone’s backside while they are seated. Pressure relief cushions have many helpful features that allow someone to sit in a safer and more comfortable manner.
The Jay Care Pressure Relief Foam Wheelchair Cushion by Sunrise Medical is known as a versatile product that offers multiple levels of comfort in one cushion. This is a good way to protect your skin from shearing due to increased pressure. Even more, this is a larger cushion so people typically feel more secure on it when they are seated. With added room on each side, people who use the Jay Care Pressure Relief Foam Wheelchair Cushion will feel like they can move around freely and readjust as they need to.
The AirLITE Wheelchair Cushion by Roho Group (PerMobil) utilizes a combination of air and foam to make a high-end seating device. Most cushions made purely of foam can flatten quickly. And, if they have no backup material to take over, people will feel less and less comfortable when using it. This cushion utilizes the power of air to offer a more well-rounded comfort to people who need to relieve back-side pressure.
Despite being a relatively smooth cushion, the EquaGel Straight Comfort Gel Wheelchair Cushion by Marketing Concepts is made of high-tech gel that gives it some memory foam qualities. This makes it more innovative than many others crafted with one quality, since it develops contours that align to the grooves and landmarks specific to your body. This gel in this cushion has deep, hidden divots that are always working to shift weight appropriately and maintain the health of your skin.
The Express Comfort Contoured Gel Foam Wheelchair Cushion by the Comfort Company offers a cooling sensation, which not only improves someone’s comfort but it allows the skin to breathe better while seated. The gel is one of the most sought-after materials for pressure relief cushions, since people find them to be optimally durable and accommodating.
The Mosaic Wheelchair Cushion by ROHO Group is one of the most highly regarded pressure relief cushions by therapists. This is because it’s an incredibly effective way to prevent pressure sores in high-risk patients. All the while, the Roho Mosaic still manages to be lightweight, comfortable, and highly convenient. The hand pump even allows people to maintain upper body strength to assist in inflating the cushion to their own personal (and medical) preference.
Wheelchair cushions are not one size fits all. They should meet specific criteria to be considered effective at relieving pressure. Wheelchair cushions must be of an appropriate size, material, and durability to work as intended.
If your cushion is too large, it will not fit on the seat of your wheelchair. In this case, it places you at a greater risk of falling by slipping out of the chair. If your cushion is too small, parts of your seat will be uncovered and your body will spill over the sides. If this happens, you will likely have trouble sitting upright and cannot assume an ergonomic posture. This may lead you to experience injury from an asymmetrical body posture. Measure the size of your seat (both length and width) and purchase a cushion that very closely meets those specifications.
The material speaks to the cushion’s effectiveness. Cushions that are made of foam or gel are usually best suited for individuals who are at a low to medium risk of pressure sores. If someone is at a high risk of developing a pressure sore, they should seek cushions made out of more than one material. The best one for this population is made partially of gel and also filled with air.
Various cushions have different capacities based on their style and the material used. Be sure to get a cushion that can withstand your body weight. If your weight fluctuates, it’s best to get a cushion that has a higher capacity so you will still be protected.
If the person using the cushion struggles with incontinence, they should opt for a cushion that has a spill-proof, removable, washer-friendly cover. You can also purchase separate cushions if you would like to have more on hand for easier replacement and cleaning.
A: Yes, Roho cushions help prevent ulcers by distributing pressure evenly across many divots in the cushion.
A: Yes, the main intent of pressure relief cushions is to relieve pressure and improve circulation in someone’s backside when they are seated. Pressure relief cushions are known to be effective for this purpose, but they are just one of the ways someone can redistribute pressure on their skin.
A: A high risk cushion is a pressure relief cushion that is intended to provide superior pressure relief for people who are at a higher risk of developing bedsores. A high risk cushion is one that is made with two types of materials, most often gel and air sacs.
A: When someone sits down, a great amount of pressure is placed directly on the ischial tuberosities (the bones underneath the buttocks). If someone is consistently seated for a large portion of the day -- as is often the case with people who use wheelchairs -- the pressure put on these areas is more likely to cause skin breakdown.
A: Pressure relief cushions for wheelchairs use materials and mechanisms such as air, foam, and gel to evenly distribute the pressure on someone’s skin. Wheelchair pressure relief cushions spread the force on a person’s bony prominences evenly across the entire area of the seat. This lowers their risk for injury by allowing the skin to breathe.
A: As long as your doctor provides documentation that states a Roho cushion is medically necessary, insurance will often pay for the majority of a Roho cushion. Specifically, Medicare will pay for 80% of the cushion, so someone will be responsible for the remaining 20% of the cost.
A: An airflow cushion offers greater breathability and circulation of air within the cushion itself. Most other cushions, especially those made of foam, can trap air and make the user hotter.
A: A seat sling is a mesh device that simultaneously cradles someone and straps them in to allow for easy transport to and from the chair. Seat slings are usually used in combination with mechanical lifts (also called Hoyer lifts), which hoist someone out of bed or a chair and into a wheelchair. This is ideal for people who are bed-ridden and unable to move to assist with this transfer.
These are just a few of the options for people in need of pressure relief cushions. When shopping for your own, it’s important to consider weight capacity, since some can accommodate individuals up to 200 pounds while others can handle loads of 300 pounds or more. Material is also crucial, not only for comfort but for effectiveness. People who are aiming for a high-risk cushion should opt for combinations that contain both gel and air sacs. Foam is a better option for those at low or medium risk for pressure sores. Of all the cushions we discussed, the Roho Mosaic is one of the most ideal pressure relief cushions for people at a high risk of sores. With an intricate design and several air pockets, the Mosaic has high airflow and ultimate comfort. However, it’s important to note that this will not be the best choice for every person. Take the time to weigh your options and find the cushion that suits your personal and medical needs.
Feel free to browse our entire selection of Wheelchair Cushions or read more of our Wheelchair Cushion Reviews.
Thanks for reading! We hope you found this article to be resourceful. If you would like to read more helpful articles, check out our blog Caregiver University.
Brittany is an occupational therapist who has worked in a variety of rehab facilities. She has always expressed an interest in patients’ internal motivation for therapy and the use of assistive devices, which led her to pursue a PhD in Integrative Mental Health. This research-based training has also led her to develop her writing career to educate patients of all ages on how to improve their health. Brittany has published four books, written over 300 articles, and has been quoted in media outlets such as WebMD, Healthline, and NBC News.
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