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A properly prescribed wheelchair may be able to normalize tone. decrease pathologic reflex activity, improve postural symmetry, enhance range of movement, maintain and/or improve skin conduit)n. increase comfort and sitting tolerance, decrease fatigue, and improve function of the autonomic nervous system. Whereas a poorly prescribed one can actually exacerbate the problems associated with a disability. Maintained for longer without relief, pressure concentrations may also lead to tissue breakdown. Pressure sores continue to be a major problem for many disabled individuals. Many groups of disabled individuals have a very high incidence of pressure sores, including those individuals with spinal cord injuries. hemiplegia, multiple sclerosis. cancer. and the disabled geriatric population. It is important to understand the factors which predispose an individuals to the development of a pressure sores. Those factors can divided into extrinsic factors, related to the individual’’s immediate environment and intrinsic factors. related to their medical or physical condition. Pressure sores are generally preventable through sensible pressure management based on an understanding of the causes of pressure sores, risk factors and methods of redistributing pressure.
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