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Shear stress measured on beds and wheelchairs

1997; Foundation for Rehabilitation Information; Volume: 29; Issue: 3 Linguagem: Inglês

10.2340/165019771997131136

1651-2081

Richard Goossens, CJ Snijders, TG Holscher, WC Heerens, AE. Holman,

Respiratory Support and Mechanisms

Local shear is understood to be one of the principal risk factors for the development of pressure sores. There is a need for a small deformable sensor that can measure the shear force between skin and deformable materials without disturbing the shear phenomenon. In the present study a new shear sensor is introduced with a contact area of 4.05 cm2. A series of validation experiments was performed with ten healthy young subjects. It was demonstrated that with a forward-tilted seat, the sum of the local shear forces between skin and sensormat is equal to the resultant shear force measured with a force plate. This result serves as a validation of the new sensor. The shear values recorded are 4.8 kPa in the longitudinal direction and 8.5 kPa in the transversal direction while sitting in a wheelchair, and 5.6 kPa in the longitudinal direction and 3.1 kPa in the transversal direction on a mattress of a hospital bed, while in sitting position in bed.