Chapter 20 – Pressure Ulceration

In this chapter the complex subject of pressure ulceration is discussed. This is of particular relevance to posture management but has wide application in the health setting and may indirectly affect nearly all areas of rehabilitation engineering and assistive technology. The chapter starts with a description of skin and soft tissue before discussing in some detail the subject of pressure ulcers, their definition, classification, and our understanding of their development. Next, the impact of pressure ulceration is raised, including quality of life issues and financial implications. Extrinsic factors and loading at the interface between skin and support surface are described prior to a discussion on the technique of interface pressure mapping. This is followed by a description of the internal mechanical state of loaded soft tissues before the chapter concludes with a discussion of support surfaces and pressure relief regimens.