Mobile and Remote Monitoring of Seating Pressure for Wheelchair Users With SCI

Mayo Clinic

Status: Completed

Conditions: Spinal Cord Injuries

Treatments: Behavioral: Structured Pressure Ulcer Prevention Education; Other: Mobile Seat Interface Pressure Mapping System (IPM)

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other; NIH

Identifiers

NCT03987243

1R21AG050640-01A1 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

16-007531

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study will examine two interventions to increase weight shifts, overall trunk movement, and self-efficacy related to pressure ulcer prevention in wheelchair users with a spinal cord injury (SCI).

Full description

Participants will use a mobile seat interface pressure mapping system that gives them live, real-time, visual feedback on the distribution of pressure between them and their seat cushion. This type of feedback works as a compensatory strategy for lack of sensation and allows the individual to visually observe pressure distribution they are not able to feel. Additionally, the participants will be provided with structured pressure ulcer prevention education, grounded in the principles of social cognitive theory, regarding pressure ulcer risk and use of weight shifts.

The pressure mapping system, which will be used during training, provides virtual modeling of the desired outcome (reduced pressure) and is an important part of the education module.

The findings of this study will inform clinicians and investigators of whether use of mobile seat interface pressure mapping as a compensatory-based intervention has a positive impact on trunk movement and self-efficacy for completing weight shifts in wheelchair users who lack sensation. Another contribution of this work is an exploration of the relationship between self-efficacy and movement in wheelchair users.

Enrollment: 19 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 80 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Individuals with a spinal cord injury (C4 and below, traumatic or non-traumatic, with onset greater than 12 months at enrollment)
• Individuals who use a wheelchair as their primary form of mobility
• Individuals who are willing to participate and able to make 2 visits to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN

Exclusion criteria

• Documented active pressure ulcer of any stage at initiation of study

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: N/A

Interventional model: Single Group Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

---

19 participants in 1 patient group

Intervention

Other group

Description:

Two interventions will be provided. The first intervention is a structured education regarding pressure ulcer prevention through weight shifts at start of study. The second intervention is the use of a mobile seat interface pressure map (IPM), which will occur during two intervention phases.

Treatment:

Other: Mobile Seat Interface Pressure Mapping System (IPM)

Behavioral: Structured Pressure Ulcer Prevention Education