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Movement and daily function

Pressure injury

Skin damage caused by staying in one position too long, most often over a bony area.

What it means

Constant pressure reduces blood flow to skin, and skin that has been squeezed for long enough starts to break down. Heels, the base of the spine and hips are the usual places.

Why you might hear it

  • Position, seating and skin are what a team means when it talks about preventing one.
  • It comes up when seating, mattresses and repositioning are discussed.

People who may help

Where Compass goes into this

About this explanation

These are plain explanations of words you may come across, not advice about your own situation. Where a word matters to a decision, the question pages go into it properly, and your own team is the place to take it.