Abstract
Knowledge of the tribology of human skin is essential to improve and optimize surfaces and materials in contact with the skin. Besides that, friction between the human skin and textiles is a critical factor in the formation of skin injuries, which are caused if the loads and shear forces are high enough and/or over long periods of time. This factor is of particular importance in bedridden patients, since they are not moving about or are confined to wheelchairs. Decubitus ulcers are one of the most frequently-reported iatrogenic injuries in developed countries. The risk of developing decubitus ulcers can be predicted by using the “Braden Scale for Predicting Pressure Ulcer Risk” that was developed in 1987 and contains six areas of risk (cognitive-perceptual, immobility, inactivity, moisture, nutrition, friction/shear), although there are limitations to the use of such tools. The coefficient of friction of textiles against skin is mainly influenced by: the nature of the textile, skin moisture content and ambient humidity. This study will investigate how skin friction (different anatomical regions) varies, rubbing against different types of contacting materials (i.e., fabrics for medical use) under different contact conditions and their relationship in the formation and prevention of decubitus ulcers.
Highlights
Tribology was first defined in a scientific report as “The science and technology of interacting surfaces in relative motion and the practices related thereto” [1] and involves the study of friction, lubrication and wear
The tribology of human skin is a research topic that has emerged in the last few decades and has continuously attracted scientific studies since human skin is frequently one of the interacting surfaces in relative motion
3b), an 3a), tested include a reference hospital fabric that is used in bed linen, like sheets and pillows (Figure adult diaper (Figure 3c) and a normal bed protector made of soft non‐slip waterproof polyethylene a foam dressing generally made from a hydrophilic polyurethane foam (Figure 3b), an adult diaper (Figure 3d) that keeps skin away from dampness, reducing the risk of dermatitis and ulceration
Summary
Tribology was first defined in a scientific report as “The science and technology of interacting surfaces in relative motion and the practices related thereto” [1] and involves the study of friction, lubrication and wear. The tribology of human skin is a research topic that has emerged in the last few decades and has continuously attracted scientific studies since human skin is frequently one of the interacting surfaces in relative motion. Like shaving, skin care and interaction with touch screens with the index finger, illustrates the importance of optimizing the operational conditions for a given frictional response. Human skin is a soft biomaterial with a very complex surface topography and can be considered as a multilayer composite (epidermis, dermis and subcutis; see Figure 1), with the three layers differing in thickness and strength.
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