Evidence and innovation in pressure injury seating prevention (December 17, 2024)

Presented by: John Damiao  

Pressure injuries continue to significantly impact wheelchair users with mobility impairments at a significant cost to both the client and the health care systems (e.g., Damiao & Gentry, 2024; Mondragon & Zito, 2024). Occupational therapists can serve as key members of the healthcare system to assure that the individual, the environment, and the technology work cohesively and effectively to allow wheelchair users to participate in occupations while mitigating pressure injury occurrence. This webinar will highlight the latest evidence in pressure injury prevention, as well as introduce innovative and novel technologies specifically related to seating design, including tilt and recline, efficacy of cushion design, and novel shape capture techniques for custom contoured seating. While the literature is often mixed on this topic, the aim of this webinar is to help the participants navigate through this realm of conflicting research.

After taking part in this webinar, participants will be able to: 

1. Identify the optimal principles related to tilt and recline for promoting pressure relief.
2. Make informed decisions on optimal cushion design when recommending a pressure relieving cushion.
3. Describe a pressure reducing principle associated to custom contoured seating for optimal shape capturing.

Level  Intermediate (3-5 years of experience in this specific practice area)