Get to Know Your Support Surfaces

		Support Surface	Type of Support*	Description
		Solid foam	Static	Porous polymer material that conforms according to applied weight
		Gel-infused foam	Static	Provides the support and conformity of foam with the addition of gel that allows for rapid heat dissipation and better breathability
		Convoluted foam (i.e., channel-cut or "egg crate" foam)	Static	Cuts in the supportive foam create a pressure-reducing, anti-shear surface
		Gel	Static	Semisolid (can range from soft to hard) with elastic, pressure-redistributing properties
		Alternating pressure mattresses and overlays	Dynamic	Provides pressure redistribution by cycling through loading and unloading via inflation and deflation
		Low air loss	Dynamic	Provides a flow of air to assist in managing the skin’s heat and moisture

Gel and foam and air, oh my! There are a lot of support surfaces on the market and it can be tricky to match your residents with the product that best fits their needs. We created the chart above to help you weigh your options.¹ Keep in mind that these components can bused alone or in combination. 

* Static pressure redistribution devices are non-powered devices that may be indicated when a resident is at risk for pressure ulcer development or delayed healing. Dynamic pressure reduction surfaces are powered devices that are indicated if a resident can't move into a variety of positions without placing weight on a pressure ulcer, if their weight completely compresses a static device that otherwise maintains its original integrity or if they have a pressure ulcer that is not healing as expected and it is determined that the pressure could be contributing to the delay.


Reference
1 National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel. Terms and Definitions Related to Support Surfaces. Available at: http://www.npuap.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/NPUAP_S3I_TD.pdf. Accessed October 3, 2012.