A pressure injury can affect those that spend an extended period of time in one position. You can experience pressure injury when there is unrelieved pressure or friction on one part of your body. If you cannot make small movements, you are at the risk of pressure injuries. Though the pressure injury can upset any part of your body, the part around the knees, heels, elbows, ankles, and coccyx are more vulnerable to pressure injury. Pressure injuries are treatable and can be prevented, but if you take too long to treat it, it can lead to serious complications.
Who is at risk of developing pressure injuries?
- As we age, our skin naturally becomes more easily damaged.
- People with a total inability or a limited amount of mobility. The people that are bedridden or in wheelchairs are at certain risk and need to be turned or moved regularly.
- Those that use prosthetic limbs that don’t fit properly run the risk of developing pressure injuries.
- If you are with a loss of sensation, you are at risk of pressure injury because you will not feel any pressure been applied to your skin. And if they don’t move, it could worsen the situation.
- The wound of people with malnutrition heals slowly.
Causes of pressure injuries
You get this type of injury when a certain force is applied to a part of your skin, thus leading to tissue damage. Some of the forces that cause pressure injuries include:
- Moisture: moistures that remain on the skin can cause it to become excessively wet, and this increases the risk of developing a pressure injury.
- Pressure: you can experience pressure injury when there is persistent pressure on the skin for a long time.
- Shear: when the body of the bed slides down or the bed is raised, dragging force can occur. When this happens, the skin sticks to the sheets, thus damaging the internal structures.
How to prevent pressure injuries
The most important part of preventing and treating pressure injuries is by relieving and spreading out the pressure. You can relieve and spread pressure in several ways, some of which include:
- Avoid slipping, sliding, or slumping – this position puts direct pressure on an existing pressure injury.
- If you are confined to a bed, ensure to change positions at least every 2 hours. And if you are in a wheelchair, try to change every 15 minutes.
- Keep the reclining wheelchair, recliner chair or bed head raised at about 30 degrees, and not more.
- Work with your doctor to make sure there is no pressure on your skin. They can also help determine the right pad for you.
- Utilize special support devices – these are devices designed to help relieve and spread pressure.
Where can you buy the best special support products for you?
At HeelZup Cushions, our cushions like the offloading devices and pillows are designed to help protect delicate heels. You can either opt for the reusable or disposable devices with special features that help control infection. Contact us today.