Faculty Collaboration Database

Thoracic suspension: quantitative effects upon seating pressure and posture. Paraplegia 1987 Dec;25(6):446-53

Date

12/01/1987

Pubmed ID

3431897

DOI

10.1038/sc.1987.77

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-0023513642 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   6 Citations

Abstract

Seating pressure in 10 subjects using a thoracic suspension orthosis was studied quantitatively. Anterior, posterior, and ischial pressures were measured bilaterally both unsuspended and during a 90 to 120 minute interval while suspended. Significant decreases in seating pressure were noted following suspension, with a mean decrease of 59.8%. Significant changes in lateral support were noted with suspension, as was a reduction in both the absolute pressure and relative distribution of pressure to the ischial areas. Relative redistribution of pressure in the anterior-posterior direction was related to leg support condition. All subjects who presented with pressure sores healed subsequent to thoracic suspension. Those with spinal curvature showed a 10 to 20 degree correction immediately following suspension. This correction generally was not maintained, however, in a temporal analysis. The data indicates that thoracic suspension can effectively reduce seating pressure and alter lateral posture, while leg support condition has a greater effect upon anterior-posterior pressure distribution. The use of a seat cushion to prevent subject swinging while suspended did not adversely affect the overall suspended pressures in this study, although the subjects without seat cushions showed lower overall suspended pressures.

Author List

Harris GF, Coad JE, Pudlowski R, Abraham EA, Millar EA

Authors

Gerald F. Harris Emeritus Professor in the Orthopaedic Surgery department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Gerald Harris PhD Director in the Orthopaedic Research Engineering Center (OREC) department at Marquette University

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Adolescent
Adult
Child
Child, Preschool
Female
Humans
Male
Orthotic Devices
Posture
Pressure
Pressure Ulcer
Scoliosis
Thorax
Wheelchairs