title: Using water-filled gloves for pressure relief on heels.
abstract: A small study set out to evaluate the pressure difference between heels on a mattress and on a latex glove filled with 260ml water (the mean volume in local practice). The study also explored the popularity of the technique. In a convenience sample of patients aged 19-92 (n=40) using a Talley pressure evaluator, interface pressure on the mattress was 126.5mmHg (range 104-143) and on a water-filled glove mean interface pressure was 144.6mmHg (range 123-159). A questionnaire survey of wards and nursing homes revealed that 79.4% of ward respondents had seen or employed the practice of using water-filled latex gloves 'to relieve pressure on the heel'. It would seem that water-filled gloves are a popular but ineffective method of preventing pressure damage.
authors.affiliation: Tissue viability nurse, Wrexham Maelor Hospital, Clwyd.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Williams