Disability and rehabilitation. Assistive technology
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Disabil Rehabil Assist Technol · Jan 2015
Randomized Controlled TrialDevelopment and evaluation of an air mattress structure and function for reducing discomfort when elevating the head-of-bed.
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. ⋯ 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.