Benefits of a Pressure Relief Mattress ✅
Beyond comfort, people who need to spend long periods in bed, as well as those who care for them, gain numerous benefits from a pressure relief mattress.
Pressure sores, also known as pressure ulcers, develop in areas that bear the full weight of the body when remaining in the same position on unsuitable surfaces.
The skin and soft tissues weaken, leading to injuries that can have serious consequences for the health of people with severely limited mobility.
Pressure relief mattresses are among the most suitable orthopaedic solutions for people who spend long periods in bed without being able to move or change position, including older adults, people with physical disabilities, and individuals recovering after surgery.
To reduce the risk of skin damage, and to treat it effectively once it appears, it is important to consider the type of pressure relief mattress that best suits each user’s situation.
When choosing a pressure relief mattress, factors such as the user’s weight, their ability to reposition independently, and their level of pressure ulcer risk must be considered, as well as comfort for adequate rest and proper mattress maintenance.
Advantages of an Air Pressure Relief Mattress
The benefits of an air pressure relief mattress go beyond the prevention of pressure ulcers, as they also provide:
- Targeted weight redistribution, helping to reduce pressure on high-risk areas where sores commonly develop, such as the heels, coccyx, and shoulder blades.
- Improved blood circulation, promoting oxygenation of the cells and helping to maintain healthy tissues.
- Ease of installation, use, and maintenance, making them an effective and efficient medical aid for patients with prolonged immobility.
- Versatility, as they are available in different sizes and models, easily adapt to profiling beds, and allow air pressure to be adjusted according to the user’s weight.
Although commonly recommended and used in clinical settings, potential drawbacks of this type of pressure relief mattress include its continuous reliance on electricity to operate the compressor and the noise it may produce.
Benefits of a Foam Pressure Relief Mattress
Despite the wide range of models, materials, and thicknesses available, foam, PVC, and memory foam pressure relief mattresses are the most commonly used options in home and residential care settings.
For elderly care and post-operative recovery, they are a valuable aid for caregivers and help both prevent the development of skin lesions and support their treatment.
In addition to these benefits, they also offer other notable advantages:
- Versatility and portability, as they are lightweight and available in various designs with grooves and cut-outs to fit profiling beds without difficulty.
- Easy maintenance, thanks to breathable materials that allow for quick cleaning and proper drying, preventing moisture retention.
- Silent operation, as unlike air cell mattresses that require a compressor, these mattresses distribute weight effectively through material density and design.
- Greater ease when repositioning and transferring, allowing pressure to be relieved with less physical effort.
In this case, although these are among the most widely used pressure relief mattresses for treating various conditions in people with different levels of reduced mobility, a potential limitation is the need for more frequent manual repositioning.
The versatility and benefits of a pressure relief mattress are reflected in the wide range of models and materials available, making it possible to find the option that best suits each user’s needs.
In addition to the mattress material and cover, some cases may require complementary products such as absorbent bed pads, draw sheets, heel protectors, mittens, booties, or different types of pressure relief cushions.
All of these care products designed to prevent skin damage and support the treatment of pressure sores are orthopaedic solutions made from high-quality materials to improve the user’s quality of life.
At OrtoPrime, we offer a wide catalogue of orthopaedic devices for people with reduced mobility, along with a team of specialised professionals available to advise on the benefits of a pressure relief mattress best suited to each user.