Independent Client Study – Muscle Spasms, Neurological Pain
Squirrel Diamond – Full Replacement Mattress Date: 28th October 2010
Care Client:
- Chris Mason
- 34 Denham Gardens
- Blurton
- Stoke on Trent
- ST33ET
Credentials: Chris is a respected mobility design technician. Chris’s specialist fied of research is empowering wheelchair users with greater freedom in both ward and community situations . Chris has a paraplegic spinal injury T7 – T8, is a wheelchair user and has experienced several pressure ulcers in the past 7 years. He has found several full replacement mattresses effective at preventing ulcers without high levels of clinical intervention, but found that these triggered secondary problems such as an increase in muscle spasms and a level of instability that significantly increased the risk of bed falls during wheelchair transfer.
Chris likes to live independently and so agreed to trial the Squirrel Diamond mattress on the basis that it might lead to an end to the 24 hour care that was, at that moment provided by Stoke on Trent Social Services. Chris coordinated his trial in conjunction with his district nurses and a tissue viability nurses. Whilst their initial concerns were pressure relief and skin integrity, Chris and team then decided to explore associated benefits / risks. Due to this 28 week research, Chris can provide a valuable testimony as to the effectiveness of the Squirrel Diamond in relation to prevention and treatment of pressure ulcers (very high risk), prevention of muscle spasms and enabling of self positioning, getting dressed and wheelchair transfer.
Equipment Details:
Squirrel Diamond – Full Replacement Mattress This full replacement mattress was placed on to a Days Casa Med Classic Nursing Bed. Different bases and clients of different weight, age and condition may give different results. These notes are not intended to prove that this product is suitable for all people in all circumstances, but to assist in the clinical and professional judgement of potential users in similar circumstances. Please ask you local distributor for a trial and evaluation. 
Specifications:
- Dimensions: 200cm x 90cm x 12.5cm
- Power: 220v / 50 Hz
- Pressure Range: 30-60mmHG
- Air Output: 4-6 litres
- Cycle Time: 10 Minutes
- Weight Limit:108 Kg
- Noise: Less than 30db
Client Details:Name: Name withheld (data protection act)
- Age: 36
- Weight: 16 Stones 7lb
- Sex: Male
- Condition: Paraplegic Spinal Injury – T7&T8
- Muscle Spasms
- Nausea (Vertigo) Dynamics
- Acute Neurological Pain
- Occasional Grade 1 Ulcer on left side of thigh.
Clients Report I have used a series of dynamic air mattress to help maintain skin integrity and prevent pressure ulcers. Whilst these have been quite effective, their instability made wheelchair transfer or the simple act of stretching for a book or glass of water or getting dressed by myself very dangerous. My first objective was to find an air mattress provide clinical efficacy but also to offer enough stability for me to self position and transfer independently to my wheelchair. On my part, I have agreed to write this testimonial covering what I believe to be the most critical factors from the perspective of the end user.
1. Pressure Relief In terms of my skin integrity – both the Nimbus 3 and the Squirrel Diamond were very effective.
2. Stability & Independence It’s difficult to express the inconvenience or injuries that a fall could cause to someone that is disabled. If one is resting on most air or a fluid filled mattress they will feel perpetual movement. This simple motion is enough to create danger for the most simple of tasks such as reaching for a glass of water or sitting up in bed – let alone preparing to breach the gap from bed to wheelchair. On this point the Squirrel Diamond is perfect. It is extremely stable and allows me to transfer without assistance to a wheelchair. This simple act means that I have obtained freedom and independence to go to bed when I want, in privacy and to awake when I want in privacy. This mean the difference in my case between moderate supported care of hours against full 24-hour care.
3. Adjustable Beds One significant advantage ripple mattresses is that when most air mattresses are placed in a seating position, their depth and the spacing of cells means that when they are re inflating they cause pinching or a rubbing against the skin. This doesn’t appear to occur on the Diamond.
4. Spastic Hypertonia The substantial difference between the Squirrel Diamond and all of the other airflow mattresses (that I have tried) is that it has significantly reduced my Spastic hypertonia (muscle spasms). This spasticity or involuntary movement is not pleasant and would disturb anyone’s sleep. I believe that the firmness of the surface of the Squirrel Diamond does something, as I have also noticed no neurological pain.
5. Neurological Pain Relief I used to suffer serious sleep issues on previous airflow mattresses. This was due in part to neurological pain, Spastic hypertonia and nausea as well as the various injuries that I had sustained. I am now able to sleep for up to eight hours on one side and in one position. This is quite remarkable. When I do decide to turn over there is ample purchase on the mattress surface to turn myself. This mattress is the most comfortable I have ever trialed.
6. Safety I can sit up in bed to get dressed on my own and if I drop a book I don’t have to fear falling out of bed because of a deep cell deflating – I just reach for it with the same confidence as I would on a regular mattress. I have tried numerous mattresses over the years and the subject of bed rails is always an issue. The real benefit here is that the Squirrel Diamond is just 5” depth, which means I am not looking over the top of bed rails. It is a low profile design and feels not too dissimilar to that of a memory foam mattress.
