Investigation of Peak Pressure Index Parameters for People with Spinal Cord Injury Using Wheelchair Tilt-in-Space and Recline: Methodology and Preliminary Report

This study investigates how different wheelchair positions (tilt and recline) affect pressure distribution for people with spinal cord injuries (SCI). The goal is to understand how to best adjust wheelchairs to minimize pressure and prevent pressure ulcers. The researchers measured pressure using a special mat and looked at how the location and size of the area used to calculate a pressure score (Peak Pressure Index or PPI) impacts the results. They found that when the wheelchair is tilted or reclined, the area of highest pressure shifts, suggesting that the way PPI is calculated needs to be adjusted to accurately reflect pressure changes in dynamic seating conditions.

• 1
  Peak pressure displacement occurs in response to wheelchair tilt and recline, indicating that the sensel window locations for PPI calculation should be adjusted.
• 2
  Center of pressure displacement is significantly affected by changes in tilt and recline angles, suggesting it is a sensitive metric for assessing seating configurations.
• 3
  Adjusting the sensel window location appropriately negates the need for larger sensel window areas when calculating PPI during dynamic seating.