Imagine delving beneath the surface of a forest, where the world beneath is a bustling network of soil, roots, and microorganisms. This underground ecosystem is akin to the human body's skin and deep tissue layers, each serving critical roles in overall health and resilience. Just as the soil's integrity is crucial for a forest's vitality, the health of our skin and underlying tissues is essential for our well-being.
The Essentials of Tissue Harm
Pressure Ulcers: Visualise heavy machinery pressing down on a forest's soil, compacting it until it can no longer sustain plant life. Similarly, the traditional view of pressure injuries are said to occur when prolonged pressure on the skin prevents blood flow to tissues (causing pressure ulcers), akin to how compacted soil restricts water and nutrients from reaching plant roots.
Force-Related Tissue Harm: However, the story doesn't end with pressure alone. Imagine how the movement of machinery not only compacts but also shears and stretches the soil, disrupting root systems. In our bodies, it's not just the pressure but also shear (sideways movement) and tension (stretching) that contribute to tissue harm. The health of the 'soil' (tissue health) and environmental conditions (hydration, nutrition) play significant roles in the body's ability to withstand these forces.
Forces at Play
In the forest, the impact of logging equipment, the disturbance of soil and roots by machinery, and the stretching of the landscape by construction are analogous to the challenges our tissues face. Daily movements, postures, and interactions with resting surfaces exert compression, shear, and tension on our tissues. Like the forest soil, our tissues have a threshold for what they can endure, known as the "tissue threshold." Exceeding this limit results in harm.
Healing and Recovery
Just as a healthy forest relies on growth and recovery cycles, facilitated by nutrient-rich soil and biodiversity, our bodies depend on continuous repair mechanisms. These mechanisms require essential 'services' like nutrients and oxygen, delivered through the bloodstream, and sufficient rest. Without opportunities for recovery, both the forest floor and our tissues begin to degrade.
Preventing Harm
In forestry, sustainable practices are pivotal in minimising harm and fostering the recovery of the ecosystem. This philosophy extends to patients confined to bed, by recognising and managing the forces that interact with tissue health. Proactive measures such as regularly adjusting positions, utilising supportive devices, ensuring adequate nutrition, and maintaining hydration are foundational steps in preserving tissue integrity.
Understanding force-related tissue harm requires an appreciation of the complex factors that contribute to skin and tissue harm. This complexity extends beyond the simplistic notion of harm resulting solely from pressure. It includes a dynamic interplay between the body's health and the various external forces it encounters, drawing a parallel to the delicate balance within a forest's soil ecosystem.
Just as careful stewardship can protect and nurture a forest, a nuanced understanding and proactive management of our body's 'ecosystem' are essential. These measures are particularly crucial for those most susceptible to tissue harm, such as individuals confined to bed, ensuring their health and resilience against the forces they face.
Read our white-paper on tissue harm, published by Wounds UK here.
