Pressure Mapping

Northwestern Medicine Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital offers pressure mapping assessments to ensure you have properly fitting equipment for your wheelchair.

Available through the Wheelchair and Positioning Center at Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital, pressure mapping helps prevent pressure sores from developing and helps them heal if they develop.

How does pressure mapping work?

  • A seat pad is placed between you and the surface that is being tested. The seat pad has sensors that measure how much pressure there is.
  • A monitor shows you and your care team where and how pressure is distributed on the seating area.
  • The monitor changes to show how the distribution of pressure changes as you move.

What are the advantages of pressure mapping?

Pressure mapping can help you:

  • Prevent pressure sores from developing
  • Heal from pressure sores
  • Compare different products to decide which products help to relieve pressure-related problems
  • Identify the best support surface for you

Your health insurance plan may ask you to support your decision to use a certain support surface before they consider covering the cost of it. Pressure mapping can provide that justification to your insurance carrier.

All outpatient therapy and procedures require a physician referral. For more information, please call 630.909.7150.