Anti-decubitus cushion. Which one is better? gel or viscoelastic?

Due to different types of diseases, some people cannot move easily or simply no longer have any mobility in the body. This being the case, the presence of some accessories is necessary to help prevent bedsores on the skin, such as, for example, anti-decubitus cushions, these are of various types and made of different materials.

Certain types of diseases sometimes hinder the different movements that a person could perform, there are even patients who lose mobility completely and are destined to spend their lives in a bed. However, everything does not end here, because if it is not treated in time, immobility in patients usually causes eschars on the skin, which produces more pain and a great problem.

It is for this reason that the famous anti-decubitus cushions exist, designed precisely to prevent pressure sores, allowing each person to lead a healthier and calmer life, even when their body movement is limited. Thus, we invite you below to read a little more about this product so that you can get to know it and get the appropriate information.

What is an anti-decubitus cushion?

This product is intended for people without mobility in their body or who have suffered a reduction in it. This situation forces them to spend a lot of time being in the same position, which is why some problems can appear. According to the opinions of doctors and experts in this type of case, whether a person is sitting or lying down, there are some parts of the body that are affected by the pressure of the body weight and that is when bedsores occur.

In this way, due to their manufacturing, design and style, anti-decubitus cushions fulfill the special function of significantly preventing the appearance of those annoying skin lesions that, without a doubt, tend to compromise the health and tranquility of each person suffering from an illness, even causing severe pain.

It should be noted that the anti-decubitus effect has to do with the distribution of body pressure points over a larger surface. This effect reduces the pressure in the correct points, where bedsores usually appear frequently, these being areas such as the hips, the occipital area and the heels.

What is the use that an anti-decubitus cushion should receive?

First of all, it must be made clear that anti-decubitus cushions are mostly intended for use in wheelchairs. Although there are also suitable for beds, as they vary in size, but their use mainly lies in chairs.

Thus, a patient can remain seated for a long time, so the appearance of bedsores is almost certain. It is then when managing to solve this situation becomes a commitment, considering in the first instance the purchase of an anti-decubitus cushion, which can be placed comfortably in the wheelchair, so that it fulfills its function by preventing these injuries through the uniform distribution of body weight. of the person. These also improve blood circulation, but there is a detail that we should not overlook, and it has to do with the fact that depending on the problem of each person there is a special type of cushion to treat their needs.

Types of anti-decubitus cushions

As always, a product is available in different types depending on the needs of each person, and anti-decubitus cushions are no exception, because for one to adapt to the requirements of a person, they must have various factors in their favor. For example, the existence of the Norton scale defines the degree of severity of bedsores precisely according to what would be the affectation of the skin, muscles or bones. Being so, these are the different types of cushions.

Special anti-decubitus cushions for patients who cannot move and suffer from ulcers

If your relative or patient is one of those people who does not have any mobility in the body, and has already suffered from skin scars, has a very high weight or, on the contrary, very low, then the ideal cushion would be a high-density viscoelastic one, of air, premium or liquid float. Only then, said cushion could carry out its function properly.

Preventive anti-decubitus cushions

Just as there are cushions for totally immobile people who have already suffered from skin bedsores, there are also preventive ones available on the market. These are aimed at people who have reduced mobility, have not suffered from bedsores and have a normal body weight. It should be noted that these preventive anti-decubitus cushions are low-density viscoelastic, viscogel and liquid flotation.

Materials

Now it is time to talk about one of the most important points in this article and it is about the material of the anti-decubitus cushion, since we must reach the conclusion of which would be better, that is, a viscoelastic or a gel one. For this reason, we will describe each one separately below.

Viscoelastic anti-decubitus cushions

Anti-decubitus cushions made of viscoelastic material usually have some advantages, among which are the fact that they are lighter than other models, such as those made of gel or liquid flotation.

Likewise, this type in general is aimed at the use of those people who present a medium risk of suffering from annoying bedsores, since the memory effect produced by the viscoelastic helps to distribute the pressure effectively.

Among other details at the time of use, these must be placed on hard surfaces, so that they can perform their function properly or else the body would produce the same pressure that causes bedsores.

Although this type of cushion has its advantages, it is also important to mention that they could be very hot if used for a considerable time, therefore, specialists recommend not using them much in times of intense heat.

Gel anti-decubitus cushion

Now, if we talk about gel anti-decubitus cushions, we must emphasize the fact that they have a filling capable of providing cushioning between 3 and 4 centimeters. Likewise, due to their composition, they are capable of adapting to the pressure surface and are mostly recommended for those people who suffer from a low risk of suffering from the appearance of bedsores.

In this sense, there are gel cushions on the market that are made up of two different parts, that is, the lower part that makes contact with the surface, where the cushion is placed, is made with viscoelastic material that significantly helps to distribute the weight over the entire support surface evenly. Now, the part that makes contact with the body, which is the upper one, if it has gel, the same one that makes it much easier to distribute the pressure exerted by the body when sitting on said cushion. Being able to use this combination of materials makes it much easier to prevent bedsores and, of course, to cushion shocks well.

Finally, you will be wondering which is better, the viscoelastic or gel anti-decubitus cushion?

Answering this question may be a little less complicated than we expected by having all the information described above. Well, it is not about which one is better since both are aimed at people with different levels of risk in terms of the appearance of bedsores, however it seems that the gel ones could be the best anti-bedsore cushions, being able to provide greater functionality and practicality to the time of use, since they even provide shock absorption.