A therapeutic mattress is specialized bedding designed to manage and prevent pressure ulcers in individuals with limited mobility. These support surfaces are engineered to address the forces that lead to tissue damage, which differ significantly from conventional mattresses. The primary purpose of this specialized equipment is to provide an optimal surface for individuals who spend extended periods in bed due to illness, injury, or chronic conditions.
How Therapeutic Mattresses Reduce Pressure
Therapeutic mattresses overcome the limitations of standard sleeping surfaces by employing specialized mechanisms to redistribute interface pressure. The core mechanism is pressure redistribution, which involves spreading the individual’s weight over the largest possible surface area. This process minimizes the peak pressure applied to vulnerable areas, such as the tailbone, hips, and heels, which can restrict blood flow and lead to tissue death.
Pressure redistribution is achieved through two related concepts: immersion and envelopment. Immersion describes the ability of the body to sink into the support surface. Envelopment refers to the mattress’s ability to conform closely to the shape and contours of the body. Both features work together to maximize the contact area, ensuring that the force of the body weight is not concentrated on bony prominences.
These mattresses also actively work to reduce shear forces, which occur when the skin is pulled across the surface while the underlying bone remains stationary. Shear is minimized by using friction-reducing top layers and materials that move with the patient’s skin. Certain advanced systems also manage the microclimate, controlling the temperature and moisture at the skin-mattress interface. Maintaining a dry and cool environment prevents the skin from becoming macerated, or softened by moisture.
Medical Conditions Requiring Therapeutic Support
Therapeutic support surfaces are used for specific patient populations who are at high or very high risk of developing pressure injuries. Individuals who are bedridden or have severe mobility impairment and cannot reposition themselves regularly are primary candidates for this specialized equipment. This includes patients with spinal cord injuries, severe trauma, or those recovering from extensive surgery.
The mattresses are also indicated for patients who already have existing pressure ulcers, ranging from Stage I (non-blanchable redness of intact skin) to Stage IV (deep tissue destruction). Patients with impaired circulation due to conditions like diabetes or vascular disease require this support because their tissues are already compromised. Inadequate nutrition and low blood pressure can also impair skin health and blood flow, increasing the risk. Therapeutic support is a necessary part of comprehensive care for these patients.
For individuals with advanced chronic illnesses or those in intensive care units, these mattresses provide a greater degree of support than standard foam surfaces. Support surfaces can help reduce the incidence of pressure injuries by as much as 60% when used as part of a complete prevention plan. The decision to use a therapeutic mattress is often based on the individual’s risk score and the severity of any existing tissue damage.
Major Categories of Therapeutic Mattresses
Therapeutic mattresses are categorized based on their operational method, using either active or reactive therapy. Static Support Surfaces provide reactive therapy, changing their pressure redistribution properties only in response to the patient’s applied load. These surfaces typically include high-specification foam, gel, or non-powered air mattresses that achieve immersion and envelopment without electrical assistance. Static mattresses are often recommended for individuals at lower risk of pressure ulcers or those with superficial pressure ulcers.
Static mattresses rely on the material’s inherent properties, such as viscoelasticity in foam, to conform to the body and distribute weight. Hybrid mattresses combine static foam or gel layers with air cells, offering a balance between pressure relief and patient stability.
Dynamic Support Surfaces are powered systems that provide active therapy by independently changing their pressure redistribution properties over time. These mattresses require an electrical pump to cycle air through a series of internal air cells. The two main types of dynamic systems are alternating pressure and low air loss mattresses.
Alternating Pressure Mattresses use a timed cycle to rhythmically inflate and deflate individual air cells, effectively shifting the points of contact and providing regular periods of pressure relief to different areas of the body. This constant motion promotes blood flow and is often targeted at individuals at higher risk or those with full-thickness pressure ulcers. Low Air Loss (LAL) Systems circulate air through tiny laser-cut holes in the mattress cells, maintaining a cool and dry microclimate on the skin surface. This continuous flow of air manages heat and moisture, preventing skin maceration. Many advanced systems combine alternating pressure with low air loss to provide comprehensive skin and tissue therapy.