With the 24hour approach to postural and pressure management being such an important and prominent subject within the healthcare industry. Often the question comes up.. are contractures preventable?
How can we reduce or prevent developments of Contractures and pressure injuries?
In healthcare, ensuring patient comfort and safety is paramount. Two common challenges that healthcare providers encounter are contractures and pressure injuries. Contractures refer to the shortening of muscles, tendons, or ligaments, leading to limited joint mobility, while pressure injuries result from prolonged pressure on the skin. Both can significantly impact a patient’s quality of life.
Preventing contractures and pressure injuries requires a multifaceted approach that addresses both mobility and skin integrity. By implementing strategies such as range of motion exercises, proper positioning, skin care, and education, healthcare providers can significantly reduce the risk of these complications and improve the overall well-being of their patients.
Proper positioning is crucial for preventing both contractures and pressure injuries. Service users who spend prolonged periods in bed should be repositioned regularly to relieve pressure on vulnerable areas.
Using specialist pressure relieving and postural positioning cushions such as the PosiPerle or our fluidised positioners, Flo-Form.
This allows the carer/healthcare professional to position the cushions, contouring to the body, offloading vulnerable pressure points and therefore, allowing the carer to mold the cushions to aid the most complex contracture deformities.