Wheelchair Cushions

Start with the person's pressure injury risk and their posture, then look at stability, comfort, transfers, heat and moisture, and how easy the cushion is to clean. The cushion also has to match the wheelchair's seat width and depth. Where there's a clinical need, choose with a seating assessment.

A pressure relief cushion spreads a person's weight over a larger area, or lets them sink in, so less pressure falls on bony areas like the sitting bones and tailbone. A standard cushion is mainly for comfort. Pressure relief cushions use air, foam, gel, a mix of these, or 3D polymer structures like NEST.

The main types are foam, air, gel, hybrid (usually air and foam together) and open 3D polymer. They differ in how far the user sinks in, how stable they feel, how they handle heat and moisture, and how they're cleaned. BES supplies Varilite air-foam cushions and NEST 3D polymer cushions.

Varilite cushions combine air and foam. The Varilite Evolution, for example, has three densities of foam inside an air cushion, so it still gives support if it's punctured. The Evolution can have a pressure setting valve with three preset positions, and comes in widths from 30 cm to 60 cm.

No single cushion is best for everyone. The right one depends on the person's risk level, posture, how much they move and how they transfer. For moderate to complex skin and positioning needs, an adjustable air-foam cushion like the Varilite Evolution is a common choice. A seating assessment, ideally with pressure mapping, should make the final call.

There's no fixed interval. Inspect the cushion regularly and replace it when it's damaged, has lost its shape or support, or has reached the manufacturer's service life. Reassess if the user's weight, posture or skin condition changes.

Follow the manufacturer's instructions for both the cover and the core, because they're often different. Varilite Evolution covers are machine washable. The NEST core can be decontaminated in a CE-marked washer-disinfector. Using the wrong method can damage the materials.

NEST is a cushion and mattress material made from an interlocking 3D polymer loop structure that's about 90% air. It spreads pressure in all directions, lets air flow through to reduce heat and humidity, and is fully recyclable.

NEST has an open structure that air passes straight through, while foam is a solid material. That means NEST can be washed and disinfected through the core and runs cooler. Foam cushions usually can't be washed through, and they handle heat differently. The right choice still depends on the user's needs.