scope:

This document describes common terminology and its application to the human body's response to postural support systems. This particularly highlights the impact of the interface between tissue and postural support devices (PSD) on the maintenance of tissue integrity. It provides a general introduction to biomechanical concepts, phenomena, and terminology. This will facilitate effective understanding and sharing of information between a ranges of disciplines/stakeholders involved in providing equipment to manage tissue integrity. Representative stakeholders include people with a disability, occupational therapists, physical therapists, biomedical engineers, nurses, medical and para medical personnel, device manufacturers, and other professionals facilitating development, provision, and access to seating and mobility equipment. This document does not provide detailed information that is currently available in physiological text books or scientific literature.