Preventing pressure ulcers has traditionally involved repositioning patients every two hours to relieve pressure on any part of the body sandwiched between the bony skeleton and mattress, or chair.

Understanding that repositioning wakes patients resulting in sleep deprivation is my significant original contribution to knowledge. In addition, patients are not provided with information about repositioning and their staff will more likely than not fail to give them a choice about being repositioned, yet they should.

Repositioning bed-bound patients is a major manual handling task that puts patients at risk of skin tears and nurses at risk of back injury.

Sharp, C.A. & Campbell J. Preventing Pressure Ulcers In Aged Care By Auditing, And Changing, Work Practices. AJMS vol 13 No 4 1 April (2022)

Exton-Smith, A. N., & Sherwin, R. W (1961a). The prevention of pressure sores significance of spontaneous bodily movements. The Lancet, 278(7212), 1124-1126. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(61)91033-9