An interventional technology called Virtual Seating Coach (VSC) provided alerts via an app to perform pressure redistribution using power wheelchair seat functions. The objective was whether alerts can contribute to more function utilization and thereby reduce pressure injuries and pain. Thirty-nine individuals with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) participated, 14 consented to use VSC, and 25 controls. The duration of the study was 27 months, with follow-up at 1 month or 3 months. Due to multiple technological and disease-related difficulties, three of those consented for the VSC received alerts once per hour to move into prescribed positions for one minute. These participants were able to use the VSC through the study end, and two of the three adhered to performing pressure redistribution after receiving alerts. The three using the VSC did not report pressure injuries; 12 of 21 controls reported development of a pressure injury. Furthermore, those using VSC noted a decrease in pain; most controls showed an increase during the same time period. The study thus highlighted the potential for such alerting technology while at the same time revealing many limitations due to disease progression and diminishing access to wheelchair controls.

Keywords: amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis; pain; pressure injuries; technology; wheelchairs.

一种名为虚拟坐姿教练（Virtual Seating Coach，VSC）的介入技术通过应用程序提供警报，提醒使用电动轮椅座垫功能进行压力重分配。研究目的是确定此类提醒是否可以促进更多功能利用，并因此减少压疮和疼痛的发生。共有39名患有肌萎缩侧索硬化症（ALS）的个体参与了这项研究，其中14人同意使用VSC，另外25人为对照组。该研究持续了27个月，随访时间为一个月或三个月。由于多种技术和疾病相关的困难，有三人虽同意使用VSC，但每天仅收到一次提醒，在一分钟内移动到指定位置。这三位参与者在整个研究期间都能继续使用VSC，并且其中两人在接收到警报后会执行压力重分配操作。使用VSC的三个人没有报告压疮；而21名对照组中有12人报告了压疮的发生。此外，使用VSC的人群表示疼痛有所减轻，而在同一时期内大多数对照组成员则表现出疼痛增加的趋势。因此，该研究强调此类提醒技术的应用潜力，同时也揭示了由于疾病进展和轮椅控制功能减弱而导致的许多局限性。

关键词： 肌萎缩侧索硬化症；疼痛；压疮；技术；轮椅。