The effect of cushion properties on skin temperature and humidity at the body-support interface.
The purpose of this study is to explore the effects of various cushions on skin temperature and moisture at the body-seat interface during a 2-hour period of continuous sitting. Seventy-eight participants were randomly assigned to sit on one of the three types of wheelchair cushions for unrelieved sitting for over 2 hours. Skin temperature and relative humidity (RH) were measured under the subjects' ischial tuberosities and thighs bilaterally with digital temperature and humidity sensors. Data were collected before sitting and at 15-minute intervals thereafter. Participants sitting on foam-fluid hybrid cushions showed significantly lower skin temperatures than those sitting on air-filled and foam cushions (p < 0.05), but RH did not differ significantly among the cushions (p = 0.97). The three cushions produced a similar increasing trend in RH over time and RH reached a plateau during the 2-hour sitting period. To select the appropriate wheelchair cushion, the microclimate (heat and moisture control) between the body-seat interface should be considered as well as pressure distribution. In comparison with foam-fluid hybrid cushions, the air-filled rubber and foam cushions tended to increase skin temperature by several degrees after prolonged sitting. However, cushion materials did not have significant differences in moisture accumulations.
a Department of Rehabilitation Medicine , Fangliao General Hospital , Pingtung County , Taiwan.
Tzu-Wen
TW
Hsu
b Department of Rehabilitation Medicine , Chi-Mei Medical Center (Yong Kang) , Tainan City , Taiwan.
Shu-Yu
SY
Yang
c Department of Rehabilitation Medicine , Chi-Mei Medical Center (Liou Ying) , Tainan City , Taiwan.
Jung-Tai
JT
Liu
d Department of Mechanical and Electromechanical Engineering , National Sun Yat-Sen University , Kaohsiung City , Taiwan.
Cheng-Tang
CT
Pan
e Department of Occupational Therapy, College of Health Science , Kaohsiung Medical University , Kaohsiung City , Taiwan.
Yu-Sheng
YS
Yang
seating; thermal properties; wheelchair cushions