Alternating Pressure Mattress

What is Alternating Pressure?

At its heart, an alternating pressure mattress features a series of individual air cells or chambers that run across its width. These cells are connected to a control unit (or pump) that orchestrates a gentle, continuous cycle of inflation and deflation. As some cells softly inflate to provide support, adjacent cells will gently deflate, subtly shifting the points of contact between the body and the mattress. This dynamic process ensures that no single area of the skin bears the body’s weight for too long, which is the cornerstone of pressure injury prevention.

The Key Benefits of Alternating Pressure

The continuous, subtle movement provided by alternating pressure therapy offers several significant advantages for individuals requiring specialized bed care:

• Pressure Sore Prevention & Management: This is the primary and most crucial benefit. By constantly redistributing pressure, these mattresses significantly reduce the risk of pressure sores developing, especially over bony prominences like the hips, sacrum, and heels. For individuals who may already have early signs of skin breakdown, an alternating pressure surface can create an environment more conducive to healing by offloading pressure from affected areas.
• Improved Circulation: The gentle, wave-like motion of the inflating and deflating air cells can also help to subtly stimulate blood flow to the skin and underlying tissues. Adequate circulation is vital for delivering oxygen and nutrients to the skin, keeping it healthy and resilient.

Key Features to Consider in Your Alternating Pressure Mattress

Our collection features a variety of alternating pressure mattresses, each with its own set of features. Understanding these can help you make an informed choice:

Therapy Modes & Customization

Adjustable Cycle Times: This allows you to control how frequently the air cells inflate and deflate (e.g., every 10, 15, or 20 minutes), tailoring the therapy to individual comfort and clinical needs.

Static Mode: A valuable feature that temporarily converts the dynamic surface into a stable, firm mattress. This is useful for safe patient transfers, repositioning, and providing a firm surface for nursing care.

Pulsation Mode: Some advanced models may offer a pulsation mode, which provides a different type of pressure therapy by rapidly inflating and deflating cells to further stimulate circulation.