The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between sitting position and interface pressure distribution in seated children. Fifteen able-bodied children and 15 children with myelomeningocele complete paraplegia, aged...
moreThe objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between sitting position and interface pressure distribution in seated children. Fifteen able-bodied children and 15 children with myelomeningocele complete paraplegia, aged 7 to 18 years were included in the study. The body-seat interface pressure was measured with the QA pressure measurement system. Four sitting positions typically used to reduce body-seat interface pressure position (recline, tilt, combined and lean forward) were compared to a neutral position. Test/re-test Pearson correlation coefficients were greater than 0.94 for maximum pressure and greater than 0.88 for mean pressure at all test positions (p < 0.0001) and, for the risk area (defined as the percentage of sensors which recorded pressures greater than 40 mm Hg.) varied from 0.62 to 0.85 (p < 0.0005). Maximum pressures for the myelomeningocele group were significantly higher than those recorded for able-bodied subjects in the neutral, combined and lean forward positions (p < 0.001). For the able-bodied subjects, maximum pressures at the combined (p < 0.001), tilt (p < 0.05) and lean forward (p < 0.0001) positions were significantly lower than those measured at the neutral position. For the myelomeningocele subjects, maximum pressure at all tested positions was significantly lower than at the neutral position (p < 0.05). The results point to the importance of measuring body-seat interface pressure for each wheelchair user and of using the information to customize wheelchair utilization.