Development of a modular wheelchair cushion for spinal cord injured persons

Abstract

This paper discusses a modular wheelchair cushion system intended for patients at moderate or low risk for developing pressure sores. With the use of components with different mechanical and physical properties the modular cushion produces improved performance compared with cushions comprising the individual components alone. In addition to achieving clinically acceptable interface pressures, this approach to wheelchair cushion prescription helps to accommodate individual preferences associated with stability, temperature dissipation, and resiliency. Mechanical tests were performed to demonstrate the underlying principles of the modular cushion. Tests with able-bodied subjects identified specific cushion configurations for different weight groups, offering alternative material configurations that may be selected at the discretion of the therapist or patient.