Wheelchair Cushion Comparison Study: SAFETY
Spinal Cord Injuries, Stroke, Healthy Adults

About this trial
This is an interventional supportive care trial for Spinal Cord Injuries focused on measuring wheelchair cushion, pressure mapping, pressure wounds
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
Control: Healthy adults
- no sensation or skin issues in the buttock or posterior thigh areas
Experimental groups: Diagnoses of stroke and spinal cord injury
- Impaired or absent sensation in the unilateral or bilateral buttock and posterior thigh areas
- No other reasons to have impaired sensation in the buttock and posterior thighs other than stroke or spinal cord injury (i.e. no peripheral nerve damage)
- No current wounds or a history of wounds (past 6 months) involving the buttock, greater trochanters, or posterior thighs
Control and Experimental groups
- Bilateral hips and knees: passive range of motion at least 90 degrees
Exclusion Criteria:
Control and Experimental groups - No self-reported cardiac, pulmonary, orthopedic, or neurological issues that would prevent sitting or performing reaching activities while sitting on the cushions for a one-hour total duration
Experimental group
- No neurological diseases other than stroke or spinal cord injury
Sites / Locations
- University of Michigan - Flint
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Active Comparator
Active Comparator
Alternating air then static air cushion
Static air then alternating air cushion
The participants in all three populations or groups (healthy adults, adults with stroke, and adults with spinal cord injury) will first sit on the alternating air wheelchair cushion for 32 minutes and then the static air cushion for 32 minutes under two conditions (static: sitting without intentional moving) and (active: reaching with their upper extremity) while pressure mapping and skin responses are recorded. The Ease alternating air wheelchair cushion inflates/deflates which shifts the points of pressure [every 3 minutes] and allows fresh blood to flow where the pressure has been lifted. The Roho static air cushion is a common wheelchair cushion currently used for pressure relief purposes.
The participants in all three populations or groups (healthy adults, adults with stroke, and adults with spinal cord injury) will first sit on the static air wheelchair cushion for 32 minutes and then the alternating air cushion for 32 minutes under two conditions (static: sitting without intentional moving) and (active: reaching with their upper extremity) while pressure mapping and skin responses are recorded. The Roho static air cushion is a common wheelchair cushion currently used for pressure relief purposes. The Ease alternating air wheelchair cushion inflates/deflates which shifts the points of pressure [every 3 minutes] and allows fresh blood to flow where the pressure has been lifted.