Pressure sores: an operant conditioning approach to prevention.

A training system for the prevention of pressure sores has been designed to teach the paralytic person to relieve pressure intermittently from his ischium while sitting in a wheelchair. The system automates the training of wheelchair pushups, and conditions the person into exercising, based upon modified avoidance learning procedures. Results indicate that the paralytic person can be trained to pushup intermittently and efficiently using this system, thus reducing the incidence of pressure sore formation. Further long-term study is needed to assess the effectiveness of the training system as a preventative program for pressure sores.