Development and evaluation of an air mattress structure and function for reducing discomfort when elevating the head-of-bed.

PURPOSE: To develop a new structure and function of alternating pressure air mattress (APAM) which reduces discomfort during head-of-bed (HOB) elevation and evaluate the effectiveness.

METHOD: An observational study (Study 1) and randomized crossover experiment (Study 2) were conducted in healthy adult volunteers. External force (interface pressure and shear force), body shift, discomfort (pushing feeling and pulling feeling) and HOB elevation angle were measured in Study 1. We developed a new APAM according to these findings. Study 2 compared the external force and discomfort of the new APAM with a control APAM. The magnitude of the discomfort was measured by visual analogue scale.

RESULTS

Study 1 clarified that the external force and discomfort during HOB elevation are positively correlated, and that discomfort can be reduced by decreasing the external force. Thus, we designed an APAM with a low friction layer and a novel mattress air-cell pressure control function to reduce the external force. Study 2 confirmed that the external force and discomfort were significantly decreased in the developed APAM.

CONCLUSIONS

In this study, we developed a new APAM to reduce discomfort during HOB elevation and confirmed its effectiveness. Implications for Rehabilitation A positive correlation exists between the external force and the discomfort that arises during head-of-bed (HOB) elevation, and a mattress could be developed to reduce the discomfort by decreasing the external force. A new alternating pressure air mattress (APAM) with a low friction layer structure and novel control of mattress air-cell pressure that responds to HOB elevation angle can reduce discomfort during HOB elevation. This new APAM should allow more comfortable rehabilitation in bed-bound patients with mobility impairments.