Cushion Type Research Articles

Sitting pressure during wheelchair propulsion and handcycling: effects of backrest angle, movement intensity and cushion type

Purpose: The main aim of this study was to compare sitting pressure (peak pressure index (PPI) and peak pressure gradient (PPG)) between a daily wheelchair and fixed-frame handcycle, thereby assessing the effect of handcycle backrest angle, movement intensity and cushion type. Materials and methods: Twenty able-bodied participants performed static and dynamic (two intensities) tests in a wheelchair and handcycle. A honeycomb wheelchair cushion and standard foam handcycle cushion were used. Handcycle backrest angles were 45° and 60°. The PPI and PPG at the sacro-coccygeal (SC) and ischial tuberosity (IT) regions were determined with a pressure mat. Results: PPI at the IT-region was higher in the 60° handcycle condition than in the wheelchair (p = 0.04), while PPG at the IT-region did not differ significantly between the wheelchair and handcycle conditions (p > 0.05). PPI and PPG were higher at the 45° handcycle SC-region compared to the wheelchair IT-region (p < 0.03). PPI and PPG at the IT-region were higher with the 60° than with the 45° backrest angle (p < 0.01), while at the SC-region PPI was higher with the 45° backrest angle (p = 0.047). No clear influence of movement intensity was found. PPI and PPG at the IT-region and PPI of the SC-region in the handcycle were significantly lower with the wheelchair cushion than with the handcycle cushion (p < 0.01). Conclusion: Overall, sitting pressure was higher in the handcycle compared to the daily wheelchair. For handcyclists using an upright position, it is recommended to use a cushion designed to redistribute pressure, thereby reducing internal tissue pressure and shear.

Padding the seat of a wheelchair reduces ischial pressure and improves sitting comfort.

In this study, we aimed to examine whether a wheelchair cushion placed directly atop a sling seat or deflection of the sling seat compensated by a pad along with the placement of a wheelchair cushion changed sitting pressure. Additionally, we examined whether these additions changed sitting comfort. For twenty healthy adults who consented to participate, measurements were taken for three types of cushions, each with and without padding, under six conditions. The cushion types tested included air (cushion A), urethane foam (cushion U), and three-dimensional thermoplastic elastomer (cushion T). A pressure distribution measurement equipment was used for the measurements. Following the measurement, the comfort of the wheelchair cushion was measured. The ischial area pressure of the cushion A pad was significantly lower than that without the pad. Cushions U and T were for ischial area pressure with a pad, resulting in a decreasing trend in ischial area pressure with a pad compared to that without a pad; however, the difference was insignificant. For all cushions, sitting comfort was significantly better in all groups with padding than in those without. In conclusion, ischial pressure can be dispersed by placing a pad on the seat surface of a wheelchair cushion, and pads were suggested to improve sitting comfort for all cushions.

Postural and spinal stability analysis for different floor sitting styles

In contrast to Western countries, traditional floor-seating cultures are prevalent in Korea, Japan, the Middle East, and Africa, where sitting on the floor in static positions such as squatting, kneeling, or sitting cross-legged is common. Most studies on sitting posture have predominantly focused on chair sitting in Western cultures, resulting in a cultural bias. This study aimed to investigate the effects of different cushion types (floor and traditional cushions of 3-cm, 5-cm, and 8-cm thickness) and seating postures (cross-legged, mother's leg, and kneeling) on measures of postural stability, trunk muscle activity, rotational spinal stability, and subjective postural stability in an Asian population. Forty right-hand and right-foot-dominant volunteers who did not experience activity-limiting back pain in the past 12 months were recruited. Multivariate analyses of variance (MANOVA) and ANOVA with a repeated-measures design were employed to assess the within-subject effects of the cushion type and seating posture. An alpha value of 0.05 was set for statistical significance. The results of this study suggest that preventing lordosis posture, seating on the floor, and maintaining a kneeling posture may reduce the loss of balance and trunk muscle fatigue. These results emphasize the need for additional ergonomic studies that focus on the seating traditions of Asian cultures.

Stability of ischial pressure with 3D thermoplastic elastomer cushion and the characteristics of four types of cushions in pressure redistribution.

Wheelchair cushions are recommended to be used with wheelchair and can protect the buttocks from pain and injury by relieving interface pressure for wheelchair users. However, further investigations are required for proper use in response to the development of new types of wheelchair cushions. The objective of this study was to evaluate physical characteristics of wheelchair cushions by comparing pressure redistributing effects of four types of cushions. The participants were 16 healthy adults who consented to participate in this study. A pressure mapping system (CONFORMat, Nitta Corp.) was used for the measurements. Pressure at ischium was measured immediately after the stabilization of the sitting posture and 10 minutes after. The pressure at ischium significantly decreased with any wheelchair cushions (P < 0.01). A significant negative correlation between body mass index and pressure at ischium was observed without a wheelchair cushion (r = - 0.70), however, the correlation disappeared upon use of a wheelchair cushion. The pressure at ischium increased over time with cushions of urethane, air, and urethane-air hybrid while that with the 3D thermoplastic elastomer cushion did not, and the change in the pressure was statistically less than that in other cushions (P < 0.01). Use of wheelchair cushions was effective in redistribution of the pressure at ischium, and the overtime change in the pressure depends on the type of used cushions.

Cushions serve as conservation refuges for the Himalayan alpine plant diversity: Implications for nature-based environmental management

Globally, rapid climate and land-use changes in alpine environments are posing severe risks to their bountiful biodiversity and ecosystem services. Currently, nature-based solutions are fast-emerging as the preferred approach to address the challenges of environmental sustainability. In alpine environments, cushion plants owing to their unique architecture and adaptability offer a potential nature-based system to plan biodiversity conservation and habitat restoration strategies. Here, we employed an analytical framework to test whether and how the cushion plants facilitate the sustenance of alpine plant diversity in Kashmir Himalaya. We specifically aimed to answer: what are the effects of the cushion plants on the patterns of alpine species richness and phylogenetic diversity, and whether these effects vary across spatial scales (local versus landscape), cushion types, and changing elevation. We randomly selected pairs of cushion and neighbouring non-cushion plots (size 100 m2) across 34 different alpine sites in the study region. Within each plot, we randomly laid three 5 m2 quadrats for vegetation sampling, and sampled a total of 204 quadrats in 68 plots with seven cushion types along elevation ranging from 3100 to 3850 m. Our results revealed positive effects of the cushions by supporting a higher community species richness (SR) and phylogenetic diversity (PD). The effects were consistent both at the local (i.e., quadrat) and landscape (i.e., plot) scales, but varied significantly with the cushion type. Interestingly, SR and PD showed an increasing trend with increase in elevation in cushion communities, thereby supporting stress gradient hypothesis. Along the elevational gradient, the cushion communities showed phylogenetic overdispersion, but clustering by non-cushions. Overall, our study provides empirical evidence to reinforce the role of the cushions as conservation refugia for an imperilled alpine plant diversity in the Himalaya. Looking ahead, we highlight the far-reaching implications of our findings in guiding the nature-based environmental management of alpine ecosystems worldwide.

Tactile Location Perception Encoded by Gamma-Band Power.

The perception of tactile-stimulation locations is an important function of the human somatosensory system during body movements and its interactions with the surroundings. Previous psychophysical and neurophysiological studies have focused on spatial location perception of the upper body. In this study, we recorded single-trial electroencephalography (EEG) responses evoked by four vibrotactile stimulators placed on the buttocks and thighs while the human subject was sitting in a chair with a cushion. Briefly, 14 human subjects were instructed to sit in a chair for a duration of 1 h or 1 h and 45 min. Two types of cushions were tested with each subject: a foam cushion and an air-cell-based cushion dedicated for wheelchair users to alleviate tissue stress. Vibrotactile stimulations were applied to the sitting interface at the beginning and end of the sitting period. Somatosensory-evoked potentials were obtained using a 32-channel EEG. An artificial neural net was used to predict the tactile locations based on the evoked EEG power. We found that single-trial beta (13-30 Hz) and gamma (30-50 Hz) waves can best predict the tactor locations with an accuracy of up to 65%. Female subjects showed the highest performances, while males' sensitivity tended to degrade after the sitting period. A three-way ANOVA analysis indicated that the air-cell cushion maintained location sensitivity better than the foam cushion. Our finding shows that tactile location information is encoded in EEG responses and provides insights on the fundamental mechanisms of the tactile system, as well as applications in brain-computer interfaces that rely on tactile stimulation.

Large-scale cushion type bare and partially rubber filled mechanical couplers subjected to uniaxial cyclic loading

Large-scale bare mechanical coupler (BMC), and partially rubber-filled mechanical coupler (PFMC) were developed in this study. BMC and PFMC were created to utilize especially at high-performance hybrid post-tensioned rocking wall (HPRW) systems. BMC can couple adjoining HPRWs in the vertical direction as a yielding-type supplemental damper. PFMC can couple HPRWs to the foundation beam and/or adjacent HPRWs at the story level in the horizontal direction. It can function as a supplemental energy absorber with high bearing capacity and adequate lateral strength. Since BMC and PFMC are joined externally to HPRWs, they can be replaced easily after severe seismic excitation. The quasi-static cyclic shear and axial tests were carried out on BMCs and PFMCs to evaluate their hysteretic behaviour and determine their structural properties. The experimental parameters, besides the loading type, were the plate thickness of BMCs and the density of steel sheet layers at rubber blocks of PFMC. The experimental results demonstrated the desired performance of BMCs and PFMCs under cyclic shear and axial actions. BMCs showed high-energy dissipation capability and displacement capacity. PFMCs represented high bearing capacity with sufficient lateral strength and energy dissipation capability. Although there was no Mullin effect on the PFMCs response subjected to cyclic shear loading, it was observed on the response of PFMCS under cyclic axial effect. Monotonic and unidirectional cyclic tests of tension, planar shear, and compression were conducted on the rubber pieces to simulate the rubber blocks at PFMCs, as well. Finite element models of BMCs and PFMCs were developed to grasp comprehensively the hysteretic behaviour. The validated model was established and the modeling techniques were described in detail.

Pressure Distribution Comparison among Standard Seating Surfaces and Strap Seating System

AIMS: Pressure injuries (PIs) are common issues that can be minimized through the use of pressure-redistributing support surfaces. Cushions that provide immersion and contour are considered the most effective for pressure relief; however, others are readily available on the market. The aim of this study is to determine how a wheelchair equipped with Comfort Tension Seating&amp;reg;(CTS) compares to standard sling seating, foam, and a high-end pressure redistributing contoured cushion. &#x0D; &#x0D; MATERIALS &amp;amp; METHODS: Pressure redistribution qualities as measured through peak pressure index (PPI) using pressure mapping technology were gathered on four different seating surfaces -standard sling seat, CTS, and two cushion types flat cross-section foam, contoured-cushion, and CTS. Twenty non-disabled participants trialed each cushion for five minutes each. The methods of this study are described and outcomes analyzed by comparing the PPI and comfort of the four cushions.&#x0D; &#x0D; RESULTS: A Wilcoxon signed-rank test, and related samples Friedman&amp;rsquo;s two-way analysis of variance by ranks (ANOVA) was calculated. The results show that there is a significant difference between each of the cushions in comfort and pressure redistribution. There was a statistically significant difference in mean PPI between the three groups in which the CTS performed better than the sling and flat cross-section foam, but not quite as good as the high-end contoured cushion (p &amp;lt;.001). &#x0D; &#x0D; CONCLUSION: While not as optimal as the contoured M2 foam cushion, the CTS seating surface appears to provide superior pressure-redistributing performance compared to sling and flat cross-section foam. This suggests that the CTS could be used as a support surface for many applications, except for individuals with high-level PI risk, without using tilt and recline features.

Measuring vibration and shock in power wheelchairs for clinical application

ABSTRACT Research evidence demonstrates the negative effects of Whole-Body Vibration (WBV) and correlation between exposure to WBV and detriment to health. ISO Standard 2631-1 (1997) is the accepted standard for human exposure to WBV in vehicle vibration, and provides vibration guidelines for health and comfort. These standards have not been applied to power wheelchairs (PWC), and no clinical tool exists that measures vibration levels during live power wheelchair driving. This study measures WBV and shock levels during PWC driving, considering the impact of terrains, base configurations, and seat cushions. A sensor tag accelerometer was used to measure vibration and shock in three different PWC configurations driven over seven different terrains. Data was collected for two runs per wheelchair, per terrain type, per cushion type. Differences were significant (p < .001) for overall mean and median peak vibration compared across the seven terrains, and for overall mean vibration for basic and enhanced cushions. Differences were also noted in mean and peak vibration in the three different base configurations (p = .0052). Results were compared with ISO 2631-1 guidelines. Mechanical shock on certain terrains created peak vibration levels with likely health risk. Results from this study can inform PWC prescription process.

Experimental Study on Spring Constants of Structural Glass Panel Joints Under In-Plane Loading

Commonly, the columns and beams of glass panels are frequently subjected to in-plane loading, in which their joints will transfer the in-plane forces. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate the spring constants of the joints of these glass panels for the mechanical analysis of the structures. However, few issues were published on this subject, so estimating the spring constants of glass structure joints is important. Devote themselves to proposing methods to evaluate the spring constants of the joints of structural glass panels. This study tests two types of glass panels with thicknesses of 12 mm and 19 mm based on static and cycling loading. In addition, two types of Cushions: (1) aluminum and (2) rubber with a hardness of 65 and 90 degrees, are set between steel bolt(s) and glass panel(s) for the experiments. The spring constants are determined by the ratios of measured loads and the displacements between the glass panels and bolts. In addition, the authors proposed an equation to evaluate the bending spring constant from its axial spring constant determined by the loading tests. The experimental results showed that the joints with the aluminum cushion appear exactly non-linear elasticity while loading and unloading. Also, the pin junction within the central region (no Curve) is 0.6mm. It is also determined that aluminum (cushion) slides of approximately ±0.3mm under compression and tension. While loading (Tension/compression) is incremental, rubber acts nonlinearly but linear as unloaded.

Effect of a Balance Adjustment System on Postural Control in Patients with Chronic Ankle Instability.

This study aimed to evaluate how a two-week program using the in-phase mode of a balance adjustment system (the BASYS) affected postural control in participants with chronic ankle instability (CAI). It was hypothesized that the in-phase mode on the BASYS would lead to improved postural control compared with training on a balance disc. Randomized control trial. Twenty participants with CAI were recruited. The participants were divided into two intervention groups: the BASYS (n = 10) and Balance Disc (BD; cushion type, n = 10). All participants underwent six supervised training sessions over a two-week period. Static postural control during single leg standing with closed eyes was assessed for the CAI limb. We collected COP data while participants balanced on the BASYS. The test was performed for 30 sec, and the total trajectory length and 95% ellipse area were calculated. In the assessment of dynamic postural stability, Y-Balance tests-anterior, posteromedial, and posterolateral directions were measured on the CAI limb for all participants and normalized to the individual's leg length. Participants were recorded at three instances: pretraining (Pre), post-training 1 (Post1: after the first training), and post-training 2 (Post2: after the last training). There was an effect on time in the COP total trajectory length of the BASYS group, which was significantly decreased for Post 1 and Post 2 than for the Pre (p = 0.001, 0.0001). Group differences and time-by-group interactions were not observed for either of the Y-balance test reach distances. The study's primary finding was that two weeks of intervention in the in-phase mode on the BASYS improved static postural control in participants with CAI. Level Ⅰ, randomized control trial.

Effect of cushion types on the seismic response of structure with disconnected pile raft foundation

In recent years, the benefits of reducing the impacts of the earthquake on the seismic response of disconnected pile raft foundation (DPRF) have simulated increasing research on this type of foundation to provide references for foundation design. One effective way to study the seismic response of soil-structures is to investigate the scaled models in 1-g shaking table tests. In this paper, a series of scaled 1-g shaking table tests were carried out to study the seismic response of scaled nuclear power stations with DPRF under earthquake excitations founded in clay. Three different cushion types were adopted to study their different effects on the seismic response of the structure and the foundation. The fundamental structural frequency, horizontal displacement, and acceleration results showed that cushion A with well-graded gravel and cushion B with a mixture of two gravel sizes were better than cushion C with a single gravel size. Although the cushion type had an insignificant influence on the bending moments of the disconnected piles, the maximum bending moments in all cases were found to be proportional to the near-pile acceleration. Furthermore, design engineers should pay more attention to the rocking of a structure with DPRF under earthquake loads.

Therapeutic Support for Pressure Injuries

&#x0D; Reactive air surfaces, alternating-pressure (active) air surfaces, and reactive gel surfaces may be more effective at preventing pressure injuries compared to foam surfaces. The clinical effectiveness of therapeutic support surfaces to prevent pressure injuries may be influenced by the care setting (e.g., long-term care, acute care, intensive care units) as well as follow-up time.&#x0D; An overview of reviews with a network meta-analysis did not find any significant differences between different types of support surfaces on time to pressure injury. However, limited evidence suggests there may be a difference between foam surfaces, compared to other types of foam surfaces.&#x0D; Specialized skin protection cushions may also help to prevent pressure injuries compared to standard foam cushions, though there may be no difference between different types of air cushions.&#x0D; It was unclear if there are significant differences between support surfaces for the treatment of pressure injuries. Authors of an overview of reviews stated that reactive air surfaces may be more effective than foam surfaces, but this was not statistically significant.&#x0D; Limited evidence was identified regarding adverse events and health-related quality of life, as well as for pediatric patients.&#x0D; Limited evidence was identified for support surfaces other than mattresses, beds, and overlays (e.g., cushions), as well as therapeutic small devices for prevention of pressure injuries. No studies were identified for therapeutic small devices for treatment.&#x0D;

Analytical and numerical investigation of the lift system stability of the air cushion vehicle fitted with closed inflated side seals

An air cushion vehicle (ACV) with inflated side seals is a promising new type of air cushion supported vessels. These vehicles combine good amphibious abilities of conventional air cushion vehicles with seakeeping and maneuverability qualities pertinent to Surface Effect Ships (SES).One of the most important design concerns for the ACV with inflated side seals is eliminating vertical resonant oscillations of the vessel. These oscillations are caused by the unstable interaction between the air cushion and the inflated side seals.In this paper two mathematical models are derived to investigate the stability of an ACV with inflated side seals. The only difference between these models is that one of them takes into account the heave degree of freedom while the other one neglects it. It turns out that the simplified approach tends to underestimate the decrement of the oscillations compared to the full model. The analytical conditions of the lift system stability are derived from the simplified model.The developed models are applied to investigate the stability of the three ACVs with inflated side seals. The difficulties associated with scaling of the stability characteristics from the model tests are discussed.

Avaliação de sistemas posturais da pélvis numa pessoa com Distrofia Muscular do tipo Cinturas: resultados da análise a três almofadas na promoção do equilíbrio dinâmico

Introduction: Pressure ulcer cushions are specialised devices for pressure redistribution and management of tissue load and microclimate. They should maintain postural alignment, facilitate movement, create a stable base, relieve pain and be comfortable. They can be composed exclusively of one material such as foam, gel, air and fluid, or a combination of two or more of these materials. Research has focused on weight distribution and has neglected the dynamic behaviour of the cushion during everyday activities. Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness in maintaining dynamic balance of three types of medium-high range cushions with different compositions. Material and Methods: Study with a female person with Girdle-Limb Muscular Dystrophy, using: a foam and air cushion (A), a foam and fluid bag cushion (B) and an air cushion (C). Data were collected in two moments: 1) anthropometric, kinematic and dynamic data collection, through direct measurement of reach, video recording and accelerometer, and pressures exerted on the cushions, employing a protocol of movements and cushion randomisation; 2) evaluation of user perception with a questionnaire and visual analogue pain scale, after four hours of staying on the cushion. Results: Cushion A revealed better results at the level of maximum reach, peak pressure in the initial position, coefficient of variation and mean pressure in frontal trunk flexion. Cushion B showed more positive results in the contact area, coefficient of variation and mean pressure in the initial position, peak pressure in frontal trunk flexion, acceleration variation and subjective analysis. Conclusion: The anti-sores cushions that combine two materials in their composition are more effective in promoting dynamic balance, with the advantage of the cushion composed of foam and fluid.

Characterization of energy dissipative cushions made of Ni–Ti shape memory alloy

Earthquake-resistant design of structures requires dissipating seismic energy by deformations of structural members or additional fuse elements. Owing to its easy-to-produce, plug-and-play, high equivalent damping ratio, and large displacement capacity characteristics, energy dissipative steel cushions (SCs) were found to be an efficient candidate for this purpose. However, similar to other conventional metallic dampers, residual displacement after a strong shaking is the most notable drawback of the SCs. In this work, cushions produced from Ni–Ti shape memory alloy (SMA) are evaluated numerically by experimentally verified finite element models to assess their impact on the performance of earthquake-resistant structures. Furthermore, a reinforced concrete testing frame is retrofitted with energy dissipative steel and Ni–Ti cushions. Performance of the frames (e.g. dissipated energy by the cushions, hysteretic energy to input energy ratio, maximum drift, and residual drift) with different types of cushions are evaluated by nonlinear response history analyses. The numerical results showed that the SCs are effective to reduce peak responses, while Ni–Ti cushions are more favorable to reduce residual drifts and deformations. Hence, a hybrid system, employing the steel and SMA cushions together, is proposed to reach optimal seismic performance.

CLINICAL EFFECTIVENESS OF 3D-MODELING-BASED CUSTOMIZED OFF-LOADING PRESSURE-RELIEF CUSHIONS FOR SPINAL CORD INJURY

This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of a 3D-modeling-based customized off-loading cushion to prevent pressure ulcers in people with spinal cord injury (SCI) using wheelchairs. The study included five people with SCI who use the traditionally manufactured customized off-loading cushions. As part of the test, each subject sat on three types of pressure-relief cushions, and the pressure between the seating surface and cushion was measured for 60[Formula: see text]min. The average measured pressure values were compared, and the change in pressure with time was analyzed to verify the clinical effect. The results showed that the CAD/CAM-based customized off-loading cushion exhibited a better decrease in pressure and pressure distribution effect on the ischial tuberosity and coccyx than the adjustable air cushion but did not differ much from the traditionally manufactured customized off-loading cushion. The clinical and economic effectiveness of the customized off-loading cushion based on the computer-aided design and manufacturing (CAD/CAM) technology was analyzed and tested on people with SCI. An occupational therapist evaluating the client followed by designing the customized off-loading strategy has no difference in terms of clinical effect compared to the traditional manufacturing method. However, time, effort, and cost should be considered when choosing an intervention strategy.

Classification of wheelchair pressure relief maneuvers using changes in center of pressure and weight on the seat

Background Pressure injuries from prolonged sitting are a significant problem for wheelchair users incurring high costs in healthcare expenditures and reducing quality-of-life. There is a need to improve pressure relief training and adherence in a variety of settings. Objective To identify effective common wheelchair pressure relief (PR) manoeuvres based on changes to users’ seated centre of pressure (CoP) and seated weight. Participants 20 individuals who use manual wheelchairs as their primary means of mobility Methods Participants performed 5 types of PR including seated push-ups, leftward, rightward, forward, and backward leans—while sitting in a wheelchair equipped with a custom instrumented seat pan support. Data were analysed using both clustering and decision tree approaches to identify types of PR. Results Both clustering and decision tree approaches were able to identify and classify PR though neither could accurately distinguish between forward and backward PR. Conclusion Changes in the centre of pressure and the total weight on the wheelchair’s seat can be used to automatically characterise type, amplitude and duration of pressure relief manoeuvres. Building such a classification and quality assessment scheme into an algorithm could enable a virtual coaching system to track users’ pressure relief behaviour and make suggestions to improve adherence with clinical recommendations. IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION Multiple bending beam load cells can be used to measure wheelchair users’ seated centre of pressure independent of type of cushion used. Both cluster analysis and decision tree algorithms can classify commonly practiced pressure reliefs by measuring changes to the centre of pressure and total weight on the wheelchair’s seat. The combination of force sensing for centre of pressure determination and either algorithm could serve as the basis for an application to coach wheelchair users to do effective pressure reliefs.

Comparative analysis of effects of various toilet seat cushions on buttock pressure during toileting in persons with spinal cord injury

Objectives: To measure buttock pressure during toilet seating in persons with spinal cord injury (SCI). Design: A case series study. Setting: Kibikogen Rehabilitation Center for Employment Injuries. Methods: The study included 41 persons with SCI. Buttock pressure was measured during toilet seating, with or without a toilet seat cushion (foam cushion, gel cushion, air cushion) on the toilet seat. Results: The subjects were classified into three groups according to the site of the maximum pressure [greater trochanter (GT) region, ischial tuberosities (IT), and sacral region (SR)] recorded on the pressure map of the non-cushioned toilet seat, into the GT, IT and SR groups, respectively. All three types of cushions altered the buttock pressure distribution during no-cushion toilet seating. In the GT group, all three cushions significantly reduced the peak pressure in the GT area, compared to the control (no-cushion). The foam cushion significantly increased the peak pressure in the IT area (Pisch) in the GT group, relative to the control. However, the foam cushion significantly increased while the gel cushion significantly reduced Pisch, relative to the control. In SR group, the air cushion significantly reduced the peak pressure in the SR, relative to the control. Conclusion: We recommend the use of the gel cushion for the IT group and the air cushion in GT and SR group to reduce buttock pressure during toilet seating in persons with SCI.

Electrophysiological assessment of cushions as attachment objects

PurposeThis study aimed to investigate the effects a cushion has on electrophysiological signals and to identify the important design elements required for manufacturing better therapy cushions.Design/methodology/approachFour types of attachment cushions were manufactured by changing the shell fiber (cotton or microfiber) and the interlining (synthetic loose fiber or buckwheat). The products were evaluated by 20 healthy individuals (10 stable cushions and 10 unstable cushions). We examined the participants by electroencephalography (EEG) and electrocardiography (ECG).FindingsThe authors found significant differences in both EEG and ECG between participants with unstable and stable attachment types.Originality/valueA complex approach to emotional product evaluation was attempted by analyzing differences due to design variables of cushions through subjective evaluation as well as EEG and ECG.