Wheelchair cushion

Wheelchair cushions are cushions specifically designed to provide comfort and protection against injury for wheelchair users. They also aid in properly positioning the user in the correct posture.

Wheelchair users are at great risk for pressure sores (decubitus ulcers).[1] A number of factors are included in the formation of these ulcers including:

  1. insufficient vascularization in areas of high pressure, typically under bony prominences[2]'
  2. the collection of sweat on the skin due to inadequate air flow,[3]
  3. the presence of local areas of elevated temperature[4]
  4. shear stresses on the skin[5]

A number of studies point to interface pressure between the body and the seating surface as the primary contributor to the formation of pressure sores.[1] In response, manufacturers have developed a number of wheelchair seat cushion alternatives to combat this breakdown. Over 200 models of wheelchair cushions were on the market as of 2001.[6]

Characteristics

Various characteristics, combined with a number of cover material options, offer a myriad of possibilities, which can be manipulated to provide various performance properties. These properties are intended to provide the wheelchair user optimal comfort, stability, and postural support, as well as aid in the prevention of pressure ulcers.[6]

Sprigle et al proposed the following criteria for defining and describing cushion characteristics:[6]

Material and construction

Physical characteristics

Design examples

Convoluted foam cushion 
Segmented foam cushion 
Low profile segmented air cushion 
High profile segmented air cushion 
Foam and viscoelastic foam cushion 
Foam and viscous fluid cushion 
Honeycomb cushion 

3rd Party Payer Information (United States Specific)

In the United States, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) publishes the Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) code set, which classifies similar products that are medical in nature into categories for the purpose of efficient claims processing.[7] Some examples of these codes include:

These codes are used for billing purposes, but are not particularly helpful for describing wheelchair cushions in a way that consumers can use to choose the cushion most appropriate for their situation.

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Ferrarin, M; Andreoni, G; Pedotti, A (2000). "Comparative biomechanical evaluation of different wheelchair seat cushions". Journal of rehabilitation research and development 37 (3): 315–324.
  2. Kosiak, M (1961). "Etiology of decubitus ulcers". Arch Phys Med Rehabil: 19–29.
  3. Stewart, SFC; Palmieri, V; Cochran, GVB (1980). "Wheel chair cushion effect on skin temperature, heat flux, and relative humidity". Arch Phys Med Rehabil 61: 229–233.
  4. Finestone, HM; Levine, SP; Carlson, GA; Chizinsky, KA; Kett, RL (1991). "Erythema and skin temperature following continuous sitting in spinal cord injured individuals". J Rehabil Res Dev 28 (4): 27–32.
  5. Bennet, L; Kavner, D; Lee, BK; Trainor, FA (1979). "Shear vs . pressure as causitive factors in skin blood occlusion". Arch Phys Med Rehabil 60: 309–314.
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 Sprigle, Stephen; Press, Larry; Davis, Kim (2001). "Development of uniform terminology and procedures to describe wheelchair cushion characteristics". J Rehabil Res Dev 38 (4): 449–461.
  7. "CMS.gov". Retrieved 6 October 2014.
  8. "HIPAASpace.com". Retrieved 6 October 2014.