Shear, Pressure & Moisture – how pressure injuries form.

Pressure injuries (PI) can cause anything from minor irritations to serious infections, that’s why understanding the causes and risks of pressure injuries (also called pressure sores, bedsores, or pressure ulcers) is crucial for selecting the right pressure care mattress for effective prevention and treatment.

Prolonged immobility, whether due to illness, chronic conditions or limited mobility that require extended periods of bed rest, seriously increase the risk of pressure injuries. These risks arise from reduce blood flow to vulnerable areas of the body, sustained pressure to those vulnerable areas in combination with friction, shearing force and moisture.

Pressure is the vertical force downward of the individuals weight pressing against a surface. Prolonged unrelieved pressure force to specific areas of the skin, especially over bony areas cause a restriction of blood flow and can lead to tissue damage, and the potential for an open wound leading to infection.

Shear is the force occurring horizontally on the skin when skin adheres to a surface whilst deeper tissue and bone shift causing skin and underlying tissue to slide against each other in opposing directions. Shear can cause damage to blood vessels and has the potential risk of leading to tissue damage. This shearing force is often considered a more significant factor to pressure injuries than isolated direct pressure.

Moisture, especially from perspiration or incontinence, can significantly increase the risk of pressure injuries. When skin is exposed to moisture it becomes highly vulnerable due to maceration which softens and weakens the skin, making it fragile and prone to breaking of the skin barrier. Broken skin leads to an increase in pressure and shear force damage and furthers the potential risk of an open wound that may lead to serious infection and other complications.

Early detection and prevention are the best treatment to reduce the potential risk of pressure injuries. Nutrition and hydration, skin care and regular repositioning – either through natural movement or with the aid of medical support surface like a pressure care mattress are key in pressure injury care and prevention.