Friday 30 September 2016

Pressure Sores (Article 5) - Types of Pressure



Types of pressure

There are three main types of pressure that can lead to the development of pressure ulcers.

These are:

  • interface pressure – the pressure of the body pressing the skin down onto a firm surface
  • shear – the pressure that occurs when layers of skin are forced to slide over one another or deeper layers of tissue; shear can occur when a person slides down or is pulled up out of a bed or wheelchair
  • friction – pressure caused by something rubbing against the surface of the skin, such as a mattress or clothing

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