Establishing predictive indicators of soft tissue status

This study investigates the effect of pressure and time on soft tissue status using measurements of transcutaneous gas tensions and the analysis of sweat metabolites of loaded sacral tissues. The tests were carried out on able-bodied subjects. Initial results show that there is an elevation in both lactate and urea in loaded tissues, which are associated with a decrease in oxygen tension are differences in the ratio of metabolites in loaded and unloaded tissue. The reperfusion of blood supply back into a loaded area of tissue was also apparent in the sweat analysis.