Comfort devices are mechanical tools designed to enhance patient comfort by relieving discomfort, maintaining posture, and preventing falls. Common devices include pillows, back rests, splints, and various supports, each with specific uses to aid in patient care and recovery. These devices serve essential functions such as preventing pressure sores, aiding mobility, and promoting proper body alignment.

1. MEETING BASIC NEEDS
OF PATIENT
COMFORT DEVICES

2. INTRODUCTOIN
• Comfort devices are the mechanical devices planned to
provide optimal comfort to an individual. Comfort devices
are invented articles which would add comfort to the patient
when used in appropriate manner

3. COMFORT
THE ABSENCE OF IRRITATING STIMULI THAT
DISTRACT ONE'S ATTENTION FROM THE TASK AT
HAND

4. DEFINITION OF COMFORT
DEVICE
• Comfort devices are articles which would add to the comfort
of the patient when used, by relieving discomfort and
helping to maintain correct posture.

5. PURPOSES
• To relieve discomfort.
• To provide and maintain correct body alignment/posture.
• To immobilize a body part.
• To relieve pressure on parts of body.
• To prevent falls and accidents.
• To assist the patient to obtain an adequate sleep to meet
his requirements

6. COMMON COMFORT
DEVICES AND THEIR USES

7. LIST OF COMFORT DEVICE
•Pillow
•Back rest
•Hand wrist splints
•Cardiac table
•Footrest / footboard
•Bed board
•Sand bag
•Air and water mattress
•Rubber / cotton Rings
•Bed cradle
•Bed blocks
•Air cusion
•Knee rest
•Trochanter roll
•Hand roll
•Trapeze bar

8. PILLOW

9. Pillows are used to give comfortable position to the patient
Uses:
• It is used to support parts of the body like head and neck, arms, legs and parts
of back.
• Relieves pain on abdominal muscles and tendons beneath the knees.
• Used in positioning patients
• To maintain proper body alignment
• Help to reduce pressure

11. BACK REST

12. Back rest is a mechanical device which provides support for the
patient in sitting position and can be adjusted to desire angle
Uses:
• Used to relieve dyspnea as in asthmatic patients by providing
Fowler's or high Fowler's position.
• Used in positioning cardiac patient to reduce workload on heart.
• To support back

13. HAND WRIST SPLINT

14. Hand wrist splints
Uses:
• Used to maintain immobility of the fingers and
maintains functional position.
• Used to maintain proper alignment of the thumb in
slight adduction and wrist in slight dorsi flexion

15. CARDIAC TABLE

16. Cardiac table is a device designed as an over bed table and is placed in front of
the patient while they are in fowler’s position
Uses:
• Used for patient to lean forward especially when the patient has been in sitting
position for a long time
• Used as a book support to read or write or as a table to take food in bed itself
• Used in positioning patients who are to undergo some diagnostic

18. FOOT BOARD/FOOT REST

19. Foot board/rest is the device that is placed towards the foot of
patients bed to serve as support for his feet
Uses:
• To prevent plantar flexion of feet
• To maintain the normal position of feet
• To promote comfort
• To prevent foot drop

20. Bed boards

21. Bed boards: Board are usually made of wood and are placed
under the mattress to provide support
Uses:
• Used for increasing back support and vertebral alignment with a
soft mattress.
• Used in patients with spinal problems
• Used in giving CPR in the proper manner.

22. SAND BAG

23. Sand bags are canvas rubber or plastic bags filled with
sand
Uses:
• Used to immobilize the body part
• Used to support fracture bone
• Used to provide support and shape to body, and
maintains specific body alignment
• To relieve discomfort

24. AIR MATRESS WATER MATRESS

25. Air / water matress are used for thin, obese and those who are
prone to bed sores
Uses:
• Used to prevent pressure sores
• To provide comfort
• To improve circulation

26. RUBBER RING COTTON RING

27. Rubber or cotton ring are circular ring made up of
rubber or cotton.
Uses:
• To relieve pressure on certain parts of the body
like elbows and heels
• To improve circulation
• To prevent direct pressure on bony prominence
• After hemorrhoidectomy

28. BED CRADLE

29. Bed cradle is a frame used to hold the bed linen from
touching the patient
Uses:
• Used to support the weight of the top bed clothing
and to prevent them from coming in contact with the
patient's body.
• Used especially for patients with burns or when the
plaster cast is yet to be dry or for patients after
amputation

30. BED BLOCKS

31. Bed blocks are made of wood placed under the foot of the bed.
Uses:
• Used for providing Trendelenburg position for patients
• For preventing shock
• For arresting hemorrhage
• To retain enema

32. AIR CUSHION

33. Air cushion: These are round in shape and made up of rubber and
is inflated with air.
Uses:
• It is used to take off the weight of the body
• To relieve pressure on certain part of body
• To promote comfort of client

34. KNEE REST

35. Knee rest:
• Knee rest may be substituted by a pillow, gives
relaxation and thus relieves pain on abdominal
muscles and tendons beneath the knees.

36. TROCHANTER ROLL

37. Trochanter roll: It is a cotton bath blanket/sheet is folded lengthwise to
width extending from greater Trochanter of femur to lower border of
popliteal space
Uses:
• Used to prevent external rotation of legs when the patient is in
supine position.

38. HAND ROLL

39. Hand rolls: These are made up of cloth that rolled into a cylinder
about 4-5 inches long and 2-3 inches in diameter and stiffed firmly
Uses:
• Used to maintain thumb in slightly adducted position and in
opposition to fingers.
• Used to maintain fingers in slightly flexed position.
• To keep the fingers free being held in a tight fist

40. TRAPEZE BAR

41. Trapeze bar: It is an overhead frame that extends from the foot to
head of bed patient can grasp the bar to raise the trunk of the bed
surface or to move up in bed
Uses:
• Used to enable patient to raise trunk from bed
• Used to enable patient to move from bed to wheel chair.
• Used to help the patient in performing exercises that strengthen
upper arms.