What is “skin tolerance” and how can it be increased? - Mary Zeigler, MS

Skin tolerance varies from individual to individual.  In the beginning, the tolerances are usually less, but in many instances, the patients can build these tolerances to longer periods of time.  I’ve had patients that can sit almost all day, or even have just one hour of pressure relief, getting out of the wheelchair at the midpoint during the day, along with the pressure reliefs.  So it varies from patient to patient.  Increase it by 15 to 30 minutes at a time, and when you do those increases, you must look at the area that’s received pressure to make sure there’s no evidence of any tissue injury, no evidence of discoloration, or texture consistency change, or bruising, or discomfort if the patient has sensation.  I would remain at a tolerance for a week at a time as you increase in increments.