title: The effectiveness of small changes for pressure redistribution; using the air mattress for small changes.
abstract: Observing small changes (SCs) at specific sites is a new form of managing changes in position. We investigated SCs at specific sites considering interface pressure, contact area, body alignment and physical sensation in nine healthy female adults and evaluated SCs using the air mattress that was divided into six cells (A-F). Thirty-three SC combinations at one or several sites were evaluated. Pressure in the sacral region significantly decreased in 28 SC combinations compared with the supine position (p < 0.05), and the effect of pressure redistribution was greater when SCs were applied at several instead of a single site. The contact area at 17 of the 28 SC combinations significantly increased (p < 0.05). Among sites ranked based on interface pressure, body alignment and physical sensation, SCs at sites BCE, AE and BD were the most favorable. The common feature among these three combinations was that they involved tilting the buttock region and one other site. The findings suggested that SCs at the buttock region could reduce disruptions in alignment as well as the impact on physical sensation caused by the body sinking into the mattress and improve interface pressure redistribution via increased contact area with the mattress.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Nursing, Division of Health Sciences, Graduate Course of Nursing Science, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Sayumi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tsuchiya
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Nursing, Division of Health Sciences, Graduate Course of Nursing Science, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Aya
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, Kanazawa University Hospital, Kanazawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Eri
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Azuma
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, Japanese Red Cross Kyoto Daiichi Hospital, Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroko
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Urushidani
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, Kanazawa University Hospital, Kanazawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Masako
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Osawa
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, Tokyo Women's Medical University Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Kanaho
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kadoya
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, Shizuoka Cancer Center, Shizuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: Mana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Takamura
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, Kanazawa University Hospital, Kanazawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Makiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nunomi
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, Kanazawa University Hospital, Kanazawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Akimi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mitsuoka
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, School of Health Sciences Faculty of Medicine, Niigata University, Niigata, Japan.
authors.forename: Tomoe
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nishizawa Yokono
authors.affiliation: Wellness Promotion Science Center/Department of Clinical Nursing, Institute of Medical, Pharmaceutical and Health Sciences, Kanazawa University, 5-11-80 Kodatsuno, Kanazawa, Ishikawa 920-0942, Japan. Electronic address: junkosgm@mhs.mp.kanazawa-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Junko
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sugama
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001513:Beds; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011312:Pressure; D012677:Sensation
keywords: Body alignment; Interface pressure; Physical sensation; Pressure ulcer; Small changes