In everyday life, wheelchair seat cushions are essential for transportation arrangements. Patients should only use standard sling seats for a short time, even if they are acceptable for short-term use. It improves the safety of the wheelchair as well as patient comfort when these seats come with cushions.
In addition to providing comfort for wheelchair users, wheelchair seat cushions offer a variety of other benefits. Cushions for wheelchair seats that provide skin protection and even pressure distribution to provide the best patient experience.
Today, most people prefer memory foam cushions over gel cushions. The two products claim to relieve stiffness in the back or neck. However, they differ greatly in their features and functions.
Petroleum-based polyurethane foams, such as memory foam and cooling gel foam, are generally similar. The density of gel foams is usually higher than that of memory foams. Gel foam and memory foam both provide pressure relief by molding your body. The foams may also emit volatile organic compounds.
Memory foam seat cushion & gel seat cushion: A comparison
Would either be a good choice? There is a question to be answered: gel or memory foam? It can be challenging to weigh the pros and cons of modern foam technology, but fear not! So it makes sense; we are here to explain.
Foam resilience
A resilient material can return to its original shape quickly after being compressed. Bouncy foams absorb and distribute pressure evenly, so it is perfect for people who like bouncy mattresses.
Despite gradually degrading and softening due to their open-cell structure, they provide enough support over time, making them springy on impact. Foam with a high degree of resilience is the ideal material for creating cushions that provide total comfort.
This type is the most durable and expensive foam on the market today. If you have a limited amount of money or need to make improvements to your current seat, it's a great option.
High-density foams
Foams with high densities are the most common for seat cushions since they provide a little bit of support and are relatively inexpensive. High-density foam will not be able to match High Resistance Foam's firmness, comfort, and durability.
A medium compression rate will generally restore the original shape of high-density foam. It is possible to climb out on a high-density cushion over a year old if it becomes softer.
You may have lower-quality seat cushions made from Polyurethane if you buy furniture from huge online giants.
Memory foam for seat cushions
Polyurethane foam, also called memory foam, is rigid and made from Polyurethane. Most commonly, polyurethane foam is used to make cushions.
What is a memory foam cushion?
A viscoelastic substance created in the 1970s for NASA, memory foam consists of viscoelastic polymers. During flight time, pilots and passengers can benefit from the additional cushioning and protection provided by this material!
Polyurethane is the basic type of polymer typically derived from crude oil. This petrochemical material can be found in many sofas, mattresses, car seats, and even spray foam!
Memory foam's benefits
In the course of testing memory foam cushions, pillows, and mattresses on clients, I have many decades of experience with memory foam. Measurement of comfort is difficult due to its subjective nature.
The following general consensuses exist even though there is no universal solution:
It may offer pain relief.
Our clients have found that memory foam can relieve pressure spots when relieving pain. Memory foam mattresses, for example, proved to be less likely to disturb our clients when their partner got up or tossed and turned.
This is mainly due to the mattress' density, which absorbs rather than transfers movements since it is denser than polyurethane foams.
Disadvantages of memory foam
Traps heat
Since memory foam traps heat, it feels warm during the summer. You feel more comfortable wearing latex because it stays cool and feels like your skin. As opposed to natural latex foams, polyurethane foams are closed-cell structures that trap air rather than aerate it.
Slow response time
It can be challenging to work with memory foam. Despite moving, the memory foam doesn't respond immediately because it has been molded to one position for so long that it takes some time to adjust to its original shape.
As opposed to regular foams, this foam is not elastic, meaning it may take a very short time to return to its original shape, but this is not the case with regular foams.
Off-gassing
Sometimes, foam products emit chemical odors. Chemicals that make up your seat cushion foams, such as polyurethane and flame retardants, create volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
Several studies have suggested that releasing harmful VOCs from this material may trigger your body heat, which can have detrimental effects if you live with it for an extended period. Before making any purchase decision, consider the foam product best suits all aspects.
What is a gel seat cushion?
The silicone gel infused in gel-infused seat cushions makes them firmer than memory foam cushions. Seat cushions with this surface feel cooler to the touch.
Most people use gel memory foam in their mattresses to make them more comfortable. Nowadays, most bedding contains it! It is important to note. However, mattress companies can differ in terms of density and texture.
Incorporating gel beads into memory foam is a common way for companies to provide more comfort and support – this means the surface is infused with tiny beads, making it softer and providing additional cushioning, so you won't sink too far when you lie on your side.
Bottom line
Although gel cushions and memory foam provide back or neck support, their functions are vastly different. In contrast to gel, memory foam does not degrade over time as some gel products do. The durability, however, is at the expense of the weight-bearing capacity.
Compared to gel, which conforms to the shape of your body while you sleep, the foam provides a lot more support.
Also, it absorbs pressure points, which can be beneficial if you suffer from chronic pain from working and driving all day or if you have poor circulation due to arthritis or recovering from surgery. Which one is right for you depends on what you value most!