Problems of Immobility
As long as people have been bed-ridden through illness, they have fallen victim to the complications of immobility. These can include, but are not limited to:
- Disorders of the skin and underlying tissue.
- Pneumonia and other related respiratory illnesses.
- Disorders of the renal and gastrointestinal systems.
- Disruption in the cognitive systems resulting in neuro-psychological disorders.
Critically ill patients, unable to move spontaneously, are nursed in the supine position for extended periods of time. This is in striking contrast to normal human beings who, even during sleep, change their position approximately every 11.6 min–a phenomenon described by Keane as "minimum physiological mobility requirement." The deleterious effects of prolonged immobilization affect the heart, vascular system, musculoskeletal system, skin, and kidneys, despite the usual nursing practice of repositioning every two hours.
Read more about this topic: Support Surface
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