Issues of Pressure Relief

Published: 03 September 2008

1. Immobility – the single greatest risk factor.
2. Sensory loss
3. Moisture, heat and air flow
4. Sheer factors – superficial abrasion and deep tissue distortion
5. Pressure from the outside in and the inside out
   1. 60 mmHg is capillary pressure at the buttocks
   2. 32 mmHg is capillary pressure at the heart level

Capillary pressure is a measure of downward pressure only and does not take into consideration other factors such as sheering.

1. Combination of pressure, sheer and moisture together
2. Stages of pressure development
3. Sacral pressure vs. ischial pressure
4. Pressure Mapping
5. Average pressure and Peak pressure

See Broda Pressure Study