The relationship between pressure offloading and ischial tissue health in individuals with spinal cord injury: An exploratory study

This study explores how tissues under the ischial tuberosity (IT), the bone we sit on, differ between people with spinal cord injury (SCI) and those without. It also investigates if how often people with SCI relieve pressure on their IT affects the health of these tissues. Ultrasound imaging was used to measure the thickness and texture of skin, subcutaneous tissue (ST), and muscle over the IT in both groups. Pressure sensors were used to track how often individuals with SCI relieved pressure. The study found that the muscle area over the IT was larger in people with SCI but appeared less healthy. However, how often people relieved pressure did not directly correlate with tissue health measurements in this study.

• 1
  The area overlying the IT occupied by the muscle was significantly greater in the SCI when compared with AB cohort.
• 2
  The area occupied by the muscle in individuals with SCI appeared to lose the striated appearance and was more echogenic than nearby skin and subcutaneous tissue (ST).
• 3
  There was no correlation between offloading times and thickness, echogenicity and contrast measurements of skin, ST and muscle in individuals with SCI.