The importance of positioning
Healthcare workers are now fully aware of the importance of minimising pressure and shear by maintaining an appropriate resting position 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This awareness further helps promote respiration and rest, both of which are vital for rehabilitation and overall well-being.
At the same time, appropriate positioning can help reduce joint stiffness, pain, and pressure injuries. LeanOnMe offers a wide range of multipurpose positioning cushions, which can contribute to a better quality of life by:
- reducing the risk of pressure injury
- relieving pain perception
- reducing the risk of joint stiffness
- relieving oedema by elevation
- facilitating respiration by supported positioning
How to use
Immedia LeanOnMe should be used when there is a need to support the body or protect exposed body parts during the positioning of a person who is unable to perform micro- and macro-movements.
In particular, the following individuals are at risk of pressure ulcers: bedfast, mobility-limited, presence of Stage 1 or existing pressure ulcer, decreased perfusion, advanced age, and generally degraded health status.
Reducing the risk of pressure injury
It is widely accepted that repositioning users at risk of pressure ulceration can reduce the risk of pressure ulceration by redistributing pressure away from the vulnerable area.
The following should be included in every skin assessment:
- skin temperature
- oedema, and any change in tissue consistency compared to the surrounding tissue
When the individual can respond reliably, it is advisable to ask them to identify any areas of discomfort or pain that might be caused by pressure injury.
Spasticity and contractures – Prophylactic support
If a person is bedridden due to a brain injury, it is important to minimise the risk of developing spasticity, which is often a comorbidity. Positioning the person in ways that oppose the spasticity pattern is commonly recommended in clinical practice.
After just a few days of immobility, the effects of inactivity will become apparent in the muscles and joints. This can lead to contractures, which are painful and can hinder the person's mobility. Maintaining a supportive and stable position will provide comfort and support better rest, which is essential for rehabilitation.
Facilitating respiration by supported positioning
If a person with respiratory issues is confined to bed, they must be positioned to facilitate comfortable breathing. The usual procedure is to elevate the head to 30° in the supine position, but to reduce secretions from the lungs, it is also important to reposition them on both sides. This encourages good respiration in the lung region facing away from the mattress.
However, some individuals may become anxious when positioned on their side. In these cases, using AVT placement of two cushions may be the solution. See below for a further description of the lung-open position with cushions.
Relieving pain perception
A bedridden person often experiences pain, whether from trauma or complications of reduced blood flow such as pressure ulcers, contractures, ischaemia, or oedema. The carer must observe the immobile individual and ensure that facial expressions indicate well-being before completing repositioning, and decide when it's time to move to the next position.
It is also possible to relieve pain perception and improve well-being through tactile stimulation. Among therapists, it is widely recognised that positioning techniques that create an enclosed posture tend to have a calming effect.
Relieving oedema through elevation
Elevation helps reduce oedema by leveraging gravity to enhance drainage from swollen tissues back towards the heart. This straightforward method can considerably lessen swelling and pain.
The A-,V- and T placement of cushions
By adjusting the position of two LeanOnMe Basic L or Roll S cushions, they may help open the lungs. The different positions are identified by the letters representing the cushions' arrangement. Opening the lung tissue can prevent pneumonia and enhance lung function.
Videos
Soft, relieving and easy-to-use positioning cushions
Using the Roll cushion for lateral positioning
Using the cushions for supine positioning
