How Does an Air Mattress Work?
An air mattress is a key tool in the arsenal of pressure area care, especially for patients at higher risk of pressure ulcers. In this blog, we’ll explain what an air mattress is, how it functions (deep cell, A/B alternating cells), its benefits, and how it compares to reactive foam systems. This will help hospital and care home staff understand when and why to deploy air-based solutions.
What Is an Air Mattress?
An air mattress (often called an alternating pressure mattress) is a support surface composed of multiple inflatable air cells or chambers. These systems periodically inflate and deflate specific cells to shift pressure, thereby relieving and redistributing forces on vulnerable tissue.
A deep cell air mattress is designed to require lower inflation pressures (i.e. softer) and allow more immersion (where the body sinks slightly into the surface). Because the mattress is not “over-inflated,” it can better conform to the body shape and reduce interface pressure peaks. In other words, you do not always need to pump them as hard, the aim is to find a balance.
Benefits of an Air Mattress
Here are the key advantages:
- Active pressure relief: by alternating load, tissues get periodic relief, reducing prolonged pressure on any point.
- Better support for higher risk patients: good for those with limited mobility, existing fragile skin, or multiple medical conditions.
- Customised comfort / immersion control: many devices allow adjustment of firmness or cycle speed.
- Reduced shear and interface stress: as parts deflate, sliding or shear forces are minimised.
- Better outcomes: use of dynamic support surfaces is a recognised component of best practice in pressure ulcer prevention.
However, staff training, correct setup, monitoring, and maintenance are critical; a mis-set air mattress (too firm, wrong mode) can negate benefits or even cause issues.
Cells Fully Inflated
Reduced Height in Single Cell
Cell Removed
Active (Air) vs Reactive (Foam) Surfaces
Here’s a comparison to help care teams decide which to use:
| Feature | Active (Air / Alternating) | Reactive (Foam / Static High Spec) |
| Mode of action | Cycles inflation/deflation to offload areas | Redistributes pressure via foam compression and contouring |
| Best for risk levels | Medium → Very High risk | Low → Medium risk |
| Adjustability | High (cell settings, cycle speed, static modes) | Limited |
| Maintenance / reliability | Requires air pump, tubing, power, risk of leaks | Minimal mechanical parts, fewer components to fail |
| Noise / patient comfort | Can generate pump noise; best to manage cycle quietness | Typically silent |
| Cost / capital expense | Higher upfront cost, more servicing | Lower cost, simpler |
| Use for turning or short-term removal | Often can be switched to static or flat mode | Needs full mattress replacement or overlay |
In practice, a care facility might adopt a tiered approach: foam-based surfaces for low/moderate risk patients; dynamic air systems reserved for high or very high risk cases.
Practical Tips & Advice
- Always check cycle settings and ensure the mattress is properly aligned with the bed frame and patient.
- Confirm pressure guidelines / protocols in your facility when switching modes (e.g. static vs alternating).
- Regularly monitor the mattress for leaks, pump faults, or cell damage.
- Use the mattress in tandem with repositioning regimes, skin inspection, nutrition, and moisture care — it’s not a standalone solution.
- Train all staff (nurses, HCAs, allied) in setup, alarms, patient repositioning with the mattress, and basic troubleshooting.
