When Should You Use Pressure Sore Products?

Pressure sores, also known as pressure ulcers and bedsores, are common injuries to the skin and underlying tissue. Many don’t realise just how common pressure injuries are and because they’re primarily caused by prolonged pressure on the skin, they can affect anyone who spends long periods sitting or laying down. They can also affect any part of the body that’s put under pressure, so you need to be careful if you’re inactive. 

Whilst it is possible to treat pressure sores, they can be very serious and sometimes even lead to life-threatening complications, so prevention is always better than cure when it comes to pressure injuries. Thankfully, if you’re susceptible to pressure sores, there are some specially designed products you can use to relieve pressure and reduce the likelihood of sores developing. These products can be used more frequently than you may realise and they’re incredibly effective in combination with other preventative measures such as; eating a healthy balanced diet and regularly changing position. 

If you’re wondering whether you could benefit from pressure sore products, below we have looked into when you should use these special mattress overlays and chair cushions.

You spend long periods of time laying in bed

People who are confined to a bed are often most susceptible to pressure sores, hence why these injuries are also referred to as bedsores. If you spend most of your time laying down, the prolonged pressure on your skin can cause skin breakdown and shearing, and this can quickly develop into stage 2, 3 or 4 pressure sores. 

The Treat-Eezi Community Pad Overlay is perfect for anyone who spends the majority of their day laying in bed. The thousands of polyester fibres in the multiple layers of this product conform to the natural body contours in the supine position, offering pressure relief and improving blood flow. Simply using a mattress overlay can help you to maintain healthy tissue and prevent problems with pressure injuries. 

You use a wheelchair 

Unfortunately, wheelchair users are also at a higher risk of developing pressure sores and they often experience pressure injuries on bony parts of the body like the hips and base of the spine. Sitting on a pressure-relieving cushion can help by immediately bringing areas of increased downward pressure to a more acceptable level. 

You can use the Treat-Eezi Seat Pad in conjunction with any standard  2”, 3” or 4” foam wheelchair cushion and this pressure sore product will transform the wheelchair base. Not only can this seat pad help to prevent pressure injuries by spreading the weight-bearing load and distributing the pressure under the ischial bones, but it can also assist in the healing stage of open wounds within a matter of weeks. 

You spend most of the day in a recliner chair 

Lots of people will spend their days sitting in recliner chairs. Recliners came about by copying Tilt N Space Wheelchairs, however, the chair cushions are almost always made from foam and they don’t offer the protection required against pressure building up at the contact points. So, sitting on a recliner chair can still cause grade 2, 3 and 4 pressure sores.

There are various foam overlays available, but the Treat-Eezi Rise Recliner Chair Overlay is the best product to use when you’re trying to prevent pressure injuries. This product is designed to keep you safe from the highest category of pressure injuries and the 4-layer fabric technology helps to prevent tissue breakdown. This full-length overlay protects the entire body and it’s a cost-effective way to keep skin healthy. 

You spend hours sitting in the same position

It’s worth noting that pressure sore products can be used on top of any foam-based seating surface. If you spend long periods of time sitting at a desk or you’re a long-distance driver, for example, using the Treat-Eezi Seat Pad can help to reduce shear forces and keep your skin healthy. This product is designed so that air can flow through every square centimetre of the surface area too, so it’s highly effective at keeping you cool during the warmer months. Using pressure sore products can be beneficial for anyone sitting for many hours a day.

Purchasing pressure sore cushions and overlays 

If you think that you would benefit from using pressure sore products and you’re looking for somewhere to purchase pressure sore cushions and overlays, explore the Dan Medica South website today. Since being established back in 2002, we have been creating products that help prevent and heal pressure injuries. We have resolved countless problems and helped thousands of individuals achieve comfort when other more common products have failed. Our team is passionate about pressure care and we firmly believe we can help most medical and non-medical clients. So, no matter what issues you’re having with pressure injuries, we will be happy to help you find the most suitable products for your needs.