If a person is immobile is it bad idea to rub the area the pressure has been on?

Question

im sure i read an article saying it was years ago but i work in home care and am expected to do it.

Answer 1

Yes, especially if the area has a change in color. You can rub the area around it, but you aren't supposed to rub the area that was under pressure. In highly immobile people, pressure sores are very common, even with constant turning. The pressure sore is a breakdown in tissue, and rubbing will only increase tissue breakdown.

Answer 2

No, changing position and rubbing the areas affected encourage the blood flow, pressure damage or bed sores are caused when an area has been starved of blood, the skin will break down and die, there is no reason for bedsores except poor management, changing position every two hours taking the pressure off areas of skin will ensure no pressure sores.

Answer 3

'rubbing ' is OUT !
If someone is prone to pressure then gentle massage can help
what do you do if you are sat for too long and yur bum goes numb?
People who are immobile will not have the same sensation after a while so if it goes numb they won't know if the skin has broken down leading to pressure ulcers.
I think regular position change is of more benefit but sometimes a combination is the best

Answer 4

pressure areas have been treated this way for years the reasons are that the massage and creams etc rubbed in these areas prevent bed sores from developing

once bed sores develop they can take weeks to heal and are painful

prevention is better than cure and you don't really want extra work treating bed sores you will have enough to do its a hard job but can be so rewarding

did it for years

Answer 5

If there are no open wounds, I'm sure that a gentle rub would help increase blood flow and reduce the pain pattern. Your client sure will appreciate it! You may consider using some scentless cream, and add your own essential oils (if the job is smelly.)

Answer 6

That used to be done in the past, but now special mattresses are used to relieve pressure on patients at risk, their position should be changed 2hrly and they should be kept clean and dry. Then pressure areas should not occur

Answer 7

The area could be sensitive; the skin might be broken, as with bedsores.

Careful massage would be good to increase circulation around the area.

Answer 8

It will all depend on how bad the sore is. The attached link may be useful.

Answer 9

of course its a good idea to to it...it improves the circulation.

Answer 10

http://health.enotes.com/alternative-medicine-encyclopedia/bedsores

See treatment in middle of page