A flotation mattress is a specialized medical device engineered to manage and minimize the mechanical forces exerted on a patient’s body over extended periods. These surfaces are designed to redistribute the pressure that occurs at the interface between the body and the mattress. By achieving this redistribution, they effectively reduce the intensity of pressure on vulnerable areas, such as bony prominences, where tissue damage is most likely to occur. The mattress offers a dynamic or reactive environment that conforms to the patient’s unique contours.
The mattress functions to reduce localized pressure to levels that allow for uncompromised blood flow in the underlying tissues. This is a critical factor for individuals who are immobilized or have limited ability to reposition themselves. The overall objective of a flotation system is to prevent the development of soft tissue injuries by creating a supportive layer that simulates the sensation of “floating.”
The Core Principle of Flotation Support
The pressure-reducing capability of flotation mattresses is rooted in two fundamental mechanical concepts: immersion and envelopment. Immersion describes the ability of the body to sink into the support surface, while envelopment refers to the way the surface molds and conforms to the body’s irregularities and contours. Both mechanisms work together to maximize the contact area between the patient and the mattress.
When the body’s weight is spread over a significantly larger surface area, the localized pressure exerted on any single point is dramatically reduced. This process is analogous to the principle of hydrostatic pressure, where pressure in a fluid is equally distributed in all directions. A support surface that facilitates deep immersion and high envelopment effectively manages this pressure, preventing tissue ischemia, which is a restriction in blood supply. These specialized surfaces are also designed to minimize the negative effects of friction and shear forces, which are internal stresses that contribute to deep tissue injury.
Primary Types of Flotation Mattresses
Flotation mattresses are categorized based on the medium and technology they employ to achieve pressure redistribution, with the most advanced systems being powered. Early forms included water or fluid systems, which use a liquid medium to provide a uniform, static pressure that conforms closely to the body. Gel systems, often overlays, rely on viscoelastic properties to mold around the patient’s shape under load, providing a reactive, non-powered form of pressure redistribution.
Air-based systems represent the most sophisticated category and are divided into two main types: Low Air Loss (LAL) and Alternating Pressure systems. A Low Air Loss mattress is a reactive surface that uses a constant flow of air through the mattress to maintain a consistent, low interface pressure. The continuous airflow serves the additional function of controlling the microclimate, managing heat and moisture at the skin surface to prevent maceration.
Alternating Pressure systems, conversely, are active support surfaces that use a connected pump to cyclically inflate and deflate separate air cells or chambers. This dynamic process constantly shifts the points of contact between the patient and the mattress, sequentially loading and unloading different areas of the body. By regularly relieving pressure from specific bony prominences, this system promotes blood circulation and prevents prolonged compression of tissue. Many modern therapeutic surfaces are hybrid models, combining the moisture-managing benefits of Low Air Loss technology with the active pressure cycling of Alternating Pressure therapy.
Therapeutic Necessity and Patient Benefits
The medical necessity for a flotation mattress is primarily driven by the prevention and treatment of pressure injuries, commonly known as bedsores or decubitus ulcers. For patients facing prolonged immobility, unrelieved pressure can quickly lead to tissue breakdown. Flotation support surfaces are an integral part of a comprehensive care strategy for individuals at high risk for developing these wounds.
By reducing interface pressure, these mattresses ensure that the capillaries in the compressed tissue remain open, allowing oxygen and nutrients to reach the cells and preventing localized cell death. Beyond wound prevention, these surfaces offer secondary benefits, including improved patient comfort and pain management, especially for those with existing injuries. The ability of certain systems, like those with Low Air Loss, to manage the skin’s microclimate further supports skin integrity. Ultimately, the use of these specialized surfaces helps support tissue healing, minimize pain, and improve the overall quality of life for patients requiring extended bed rest.