title: The Effects of Body Mass Composition and Cushion Type on Seat-Interface Pressure in Spinal Cord Injured Patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effects of body mass composition and cushion type on seat-interface pressure in spinal cord injured (SCI) patients and healthy subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty SCI patients and control subjects were included and their body mass composition measured. Seat-interface pressure was measured with participants in an upright sitting posture on a wheelchair with three kinds of seat cushion and without a seat cushion. We also measured the pressure with each participant in three kinds of sitting postures on each air-filled cushion. We used repeated measure ANOVA, the Mann-Whitney test, and Spearman correlation coefficient for statistical analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The total skeletal muscle mass and body water in the lower extremities were significantly higher in the control group, whilst body fat was significantly higher in the SCI group. However, the seat-interface pressure and body mass composition were not significantly correlated in both groups. Each of the three types of seat cushion resulted in significant reduction in the seat-interface pressure. The SCI group had significantly higher seatinterface pressure than the control group regardless of cushion type or sitting posture. The three kinds of sitting posture did not result in a significant reduction of seat-interface pressure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We confirmed that the body mass composition does not have a direct effect on seat-interface pressure. However, a reduction of skeletal muscle mass and body water can influence the occurrence of pressure ulcers. Furthermore, in order to minimize seat-interface pressure, it is necessary to apply a method fitted to each individual rather than a uniform method.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Chungnam National University School of Medicine, Daejeon, Korea.
authors.forename: Kang Hee
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Chungnam National University School of Medicine, Daejeon, Korea.
authors.forename: Jaewon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Beom
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Chungnam National University School of Medicine, Daejeon, Korea.
authors.forename: Jee Hyun
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Yuk
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Chungnam National University School of Medicine, Daejeon, Korea.
authors.forename: Seung-Chan
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Ahn
keywords: Body mass index; Pressure; Pressure ulcer; Spinal cord injuries