For long‑term wheelchair users, switch to a pressure‑relieving cushion and check the ischial and sacrococcygeal areas daily
In nursing homes, older adults on pressure-relieving cushions had clearly fewer pressure ulcers at the sitting bones than those on ordinary segmented foam cushions, but when the coccyx was counted together no statistically significant difference was detected. Everyone in the trial first got a fitted wheelchair, so the chair itself must be sized to the person — a generic model is not enough. The UK NHS also recommends daily skin checks for pressure-ulcer symptoms.
A pressure‑relieving cushion costs several hundred to over…
This randomized clinical trial took place in 12 nursing homes between 2004 and 2008, enrolling 232 residents a…
A pressure‑relieving cushion costs several hundred to over a thousand yuan. The daily check takes just one minute.
This randomized clinical trial took place in 12 nursing homes between 2004 and 2008, enrolling 232 residents aged 65 or older who used a wheelchair for at least 6 hours daily and had a Braden score ≤18. All participants received a properly fitted wheelchair and were then randomly assigned to two groups: one used skin‑protective cushions (air, viscoelastic fluid plus foam, or gel plus foam), while the other used segmented foam cushions 7.6 cm thick. Follow‑up lasted 6 months or until a pressure ulcer developed. For pressure ulcers at the ischial tuberosity, the segmented foam group had 8 cases (6.7%) versus 1 case (0.9%) in the skin‑protective group (P = 0.04). When both ischial and sacrococcygeal ulcers were counted, the segmented foam group had 21 cases (17.6%) and the skin‑protective group 12 cases (10.6%); this difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.14). The daily skin-check advice comes from NHS pressure-ulcer prevention guidance for home care: use specially designed mattresses and cushions, and check skin daily for pressure-ulcer symptoms.
Brienza D, Kelsey S, Karg P, et al. (2010). A randomized clinical trial on preventing pressure ulcers with wheelchair seat cushions. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 58(12):2308-2314. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1532-5415.2010.03168.x；NHS. Pressure ulcers (pressure sores)：「use specially designed mattresses and cushions」「check your skin every day for symptoms of a pressure ulcer」. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pressure-sores/（2026 年 11 月 4 日查阅）
Open source linkGrade B for two reasons. First, the sample is only 232 people; the primary endpoint P value 0.04 just cleared the line, and the secondary endpoint showed no difference. Second, the sample is older nursing-home residents; applying it to younger wheelchair users is an extrapolation. Everyone in the trial first got a fitted wheelchair, so “fit” and “cushion” work together — do not only swap the cushion. Pressure-ulcer prevention for long-term bed rest, air mattresses, and timed turning are in Section 17, item 8 (pressure ulcers). How to apply for subsidies for basic assistive devices is in item 7 of this section (ask the county Disabled Persons’ Federation (残联) for the full list).