27 replies to this topic

[mcferguson]

At the rehab hospital I was told to do pressure releases anywhere from every 20 minutes to every 2 hours for at least 1 minute each. 2 hours seems way too long, so I didn't put it as a separate choice.

Currently, I have a ROHO cushion on my chair and I do a 1 minute (sometimes more) release every hour. It is easy for me to remember and I haven't had any skin breakdown issues yet.

Edited by mcferguson, 15 September 2009 - 09:51 PM.

[Beautiful]

Haha, not too long for me. I don't do pressure releases at all. I am really active though, so that makes up for it.

[Jax]

I don't do actual pressure releases as recommended by therapists. Then again, I don't sit in the wheelchair anymore than is necessary. I sit on the couch, or in an office chair, etc, every chance I get.

[wheeliebear75]

It varies but I'd say the average is about evry 90 min or so I'll lift up for about 30 sec or so.

But the worse my back feels the less I do them so winter I tend to shift more than lift.

[kim wright]

wheeliebear75, on Sep 19 2009, 06:48 AM, said:

It varies but I'd say the average is about evry 90 min or so I'll lift up for about 30 sec or so.

But the worse my back feels the less I do them so winter I tend to shift more than lift.

i keep forgetting never had a sore so i must be doing something right

[meadow]

whenever my butt hurts.

[qbounce]

Damn, I'm really surprised at the results so far. Have I been paranoid for no reason?

I remember being told 15 sec's for every 15 minutes.
I doubled that because I thought I was lazy.

Guess, I'm not as lazy as I thought.-lol

Keeking in mind that I had a flap surgery on my coccyx 2 years ago, so my skins more prone to it.

[blckchns]

I don't do pressure releases either. Mostly because I forget though.

[mcferguson]

I am very surprised to learn that most folks wait more than an hour. Must have good cushions.

[larry0816]

i try to do mine at least once every hour for about 1-2 minutes

[The Black Sheep]

I shift a lot and cross my legs to help move weight from one side to the other. The only times I actually lift are to stretch my back or when I stand with a walker. The walker feels SOOOO good on my back and knees. I shift about every 15 or 30 minutes though. The physical therapist told me that shifting doesn't lift enough weight off my bottom, but I've never had a pressure sore in 11 years.

[Meadowlarkmark]

When ever I think of it or when my butt hurts...I need to do better or get a better cushion-I have a decube which refuses to heaql.

[airart1]

for the ones that don't do a pressure relief, u will someday wish u did, because your life will never be the same, and if u think u don't need to, then just ask anyone thats been in a chair for awhile, i think personally that after a few years the muscle tone goes away and u will have a sore and if u dont let it heal, it won't go away on its own, they dont do thousands of flap surgeries a year because people don't do them.....u can take it to the bank!

[Tetracyclone]

The only reason I counted myself as doing pressure releases only once an our is because I'm out of my chair so much- standing, biking, or on the floor. I think I'm an invalid statistic.

[airart1]

i would say that doesn't count, if u can stand..............i don't think u will get a sore on your feet!

[S&W Winger]

I can't do my own, so the insurance gods approved this PerMobil chair that tilts me back, etc....also sitting on a Roho...try to do a few chair backflips, as I call 'em, every 30 minutes...but I forget A LOT! They also told me 20 minutes in rehab...

[airart1]

thats good, keep using it, it will make a big difference longer down the road.........

[Wheelsonfire]

I do a lift every few minutes, airart is right, it pays in the long run.

Oh I forgot, 18 years and never a sore and my ass is never red when jumping on the bed, and I'm up in the chair 18 hours a day.

Edited by Wheelsonfire, 17 January 2010 - 02:53 AM.

[Beautiful]

That may be true, but I have been paralyzed for 14 years and haven't had any major issues with pressure sores. Yea, muscle tone goes down, but some people just don't have issues. But like I said, I am active, so my body does shift a lot.

[Wheelsonfire]

I too am active, the muscle needs to breathe, blood needs to circulate properly, when I forget to lift my spasm lets me know my legs are uncomfortable and they need the release.
This is more important for complete injuries as they have no idea what their lower half is going through.

Regards
John

[Texaswheelz]

airart1, on Jan 15 2010, 06:08 PM, said:

for the ones that don't do a pressure relief, u will someday wish u did, because your life will never be the same, and if u think u don't need to, then just ask anyone thats been in a chair for awhile, i think personally that after a few years the muscle tone goes away and u will have a sore and if u dont let it heal, it won't go away on its own, they dont do thousands of flap surgeries a year because people don't do them.....u can take it to the bank!

Knock on wood...I haven't had any type of skin issue and have notched 19 years on my belt. The first few years I really worried about it and was lifting myself up for a good minute or two every 20 minutes. Now I don't even worry or think about it, i'm just moving around so much that it comes natural, but I haven't lifted my self up and held myself up for more then 5-10 seconds in 10 or 12 years now. I have a friend that is in the hospital right now after having flap surgery 2 weeks ago, he's supposed to be in bed for another 4 to 5 weeks and this is his 2nd one. He's is always lifting himself up and shifting positions, seems every 5 or 10 minutes and sits on a high profile roho, yet he still got one. Some people are just more prone to them I guess

[Wheelsonfire]

Quote

Knock on wood...I haven't had any type of skin issue and have notched 19 years on my belt. The first few years I really worried about it and was lifting myself up for a good minute or two every 20 minutes. Now I don't even worry or think about it, i'm just moving around so much that it comes natural, but I haven't lifted my self up and held myself up for more then 5-10 seconds in 10 or 12 years now. I have a friend that is in the hospital right now after having flap surgery 2 weeks ago, he's supposed to be in bed for another 4 to 5 weeks and this is his 2nd one. He's is always lifting himself up and shifting positions, seems every 5 or 10 minutes and sits on a high profile roho, yet he still got one. Some people are just more prone to them I guess

Yes Texas, it can all depend on the individual, but for complete newbies to the chair who have joined this forum and who are reading this post looking for advice. And this might be their only point of contact to seek that advice.
Are we to tell them to just hang around and see what level of threshold their skin bares?
Is it not better for them to take preventative measures and do the lift, it relieves pressure(side effect been haemorrhoids,and that's just a pain in the ass if you get them.) It will allow them to gain upper body strength.

In time the newbies will know to gage their tolerance, for the experienced, it's each to their own, they have already gained that knowledge.
Different strokes for different blokes

****An after thought****

Beautiful, from your profile image, you look very slim, which means you don't have weight pushing down on your lower extremities, I have noticed as I put bulk(I gotta get this in just in case someone thinks I'm a fat git-it aint body fat) I tend to lift more often,regardless as to how active I am.

Regards
John

Edited by Wheelsonfire, 17 January 2010 - 07:18 AM.

[Texaswheelz]

Sure for some one new to this, go with that your told, I didn't know the question though was what we thought some one new should do, but how we handled it. In which I responded, both on how I did it at first and how I do it now. I don't think any one that can lift them self up should come out of rehab and start doing it only once every couple of hours of sitting in their chair.

[Wheelsonfire]

Texaswheelz, on Jan 17 2010, 05:05 PM, said:

Sure for some one new to this, go with that your told, I didn't know the question though was what we thought some one new should do, but how we handled it. In which I responded, both on how I did it at first and how I do it now. I don't think any one that can lift them self up should come out of rehab and start doing it only once every couple of hours of sitting in their chair.

I didn't mean to come across as been argumentative, being in the chair as long as we are, we know our boundries, I was just looking at it from the newbies side of things.

Regards

[amy1]

I just wanted to say that my OT, whom I love!, told me that a recent study showed that it takes 5-9 minutes after the capillaries refill with blood for everything to recoup. I know not many people can or want do pressure relief for 10 mins- I don't. I have some feeling in my tush though so it helps. Anyway, just wanted to share. Always like to have the newest 411.

[airart1]

i've honestly noticed some with an average body weight without alot of belly and no spasms that don't keep some meat on their bones and muscle tone are the ones that have the worst chance of pressure sore, which makes sense, and time, seems like after about ten years the tone starts to give it up in the butt..........just an observation, probably should start watching it from the get go anyway, because it sure is a life changer after the fact.......... just remember what it felt like when u sat alot before paralyzed.....i remember my butt hurting or sore from sitting behind a type writer and desk for hours in the aair force.i remember how it would hurt and go to slep!

Edited by airart1, 04 July 2010 - 12:10 AM.

[NorCalQuad]

Meadowlarkmark, on 15 January 2010 - 07:49 PM, said:

When ever I think of it or when my butt hurts...I need to do better or get a better cushion-I have a decube which refuses to heaql.

STAY OFF your decube. Thats the
only way it will heal.

[airart1]

he speak the truth!