Objectives: This study compared the body contact pressure profiles of 2 types of mattresses: latex and polyurethane.
Methods: Twenty participants were required to lie down on the different mattresses in 3 different postures for 6 minutes, and their body contact pressure profiles were recorded with a pressure mat sensor.
Results: The data indicated that the latex mattress was able to reduce the peak body pressure on the torso and buttocks and achieve a higher proportion of low-pressure regions compared with the polyurethane mattress.
Conclusions: Latex mattress reduced peak body pressure and achieved a more even distribution of pressure compared with polyurethane mattress across different sleeping postures.
Keywords: Beds; Posture; Pressure Ulcer; Sleep; Supine Position.