Often lost in the ongoing conversation about how best to treat pressure ulcers, is a very important concept: prevention. There are many factors that make up a complete pressure ulcer prevention plan, including proper skin treatment and good nutrition. But if pressure is the major cause of pressure ulcers, it makes sense that any prevention plan would address the relief of that pressure.

One way to achieve that is by constantly rotating or repositioning the patient. Equally important, however, is the actual support surface on which the patient is sitting or lying. An effective pressure reducing support surface will allow your body to sink into it. In doing so, the pressure between your body and the surface is distributed over a wider area. In general, the more of your body that is in contact with the support surface, the better.