Required Attributes of a Smart Clothing for Pressure Ulcers Prevention

Individuals who remain bedridden for a long period are prone to changes in human body systems, and pressure ulcers are a major problem in this clinical condition, representing more than 6.5 million cases per year, globally. The acting pressure forces combined with the shear forces are responsible for lesions in the skin and/or underlying tissues, usually on a bony prominence. The patient is the starting point for the product/clothing development, however, to meet this demand in terms of comfort in its various approaches, it is necessary to consider beyond the needs: limitations, mobility condition, adopted postures, skin injuries complications and implications, the specification of the materials used, as well as its pattern design, structures and technologies. Therefore, the objective of this study is to build an array of attributes that is in line with the development of smart clothing for pressure ulcer prevention. For this condition, this study aims to relate the proposals with the new technologies, ergonomics, and usability, under the four aspects of comfort: ergonomic, psychological-aesthetic, thermophysiological, and sensorial.