09 June 2022
The European Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel, National Pressure Injury Advisory Panel and Pan-Pacific Pressure Injury Alliance (EPUAP, NPIAP and PPPIA, 2019) defined a
pressure ulcer as an area of localised damage to the skin and underlying tissue mainly caused by pressure, or pressure in combination with shear, which usually develops on bony prominences, such as the sacrum, coccyx bone and heel. Although considerable effort has been, and continues to be made in education, training, and prevention equipment, pressure ulcers remain a significant healthcare issue in various settings. Apart from manual repositioning, a pressure-relieving support surface is an alternative way to redistribute pressure by reducing the shear or friction between the user and surface (Springle and Sonenblum, 2011; Shi et al, 2018).
