GlideWear™ Technology specialty products - Tamarack Habilitation Technologies, Inc.

Tamarack Wheelchair Cushion Covers with GlideWear Technology

Tamarack began using GlideWear for wheelchair seating applications and called this first product design the ‘GlideWear SIT’. The GlideWear SIT (Seat Interface Technology) cover uniquely offers skin protection from shear forces strategically in the high-risk areas of the ischial tuberosities, and simultaneously retains the postural stability needed for function.

*Possible availability on a custom basis through a Durable Medical Equipment Supplier or other distribution means


Tamarack Headrest Covers

The head support people need as a component of their seating and positioning can cause irritation on the scalp, hair loss, and make it more difficult to move ones head slightly (n cases on muscle weakness). The opportunity GlideWear provides is significant as it relates to comfort, skin protection, and function. Tamarack generated GlideWear covers for many varieties of commercially available and custom made head supports, including those manufactured by OttoBock, Stealth, i2i, and others.


Use of a Tamarack Prosthetic Liner Patch in a Total Contact Cast (TCC)

Even underneath the stability of a cast, wound dressings (and fragile, wounded tissue) can be shredded by shear forces. A strategically-placed low-friction interface reduces the shear forces on the dressing and the underlying wound.

For additional information contact Tamarack Clinical Team

Available to professionals through O&P industry suppliers. To see a list,

Available to consumers through Ithaca Sports.


Tamarack Sitting Pad with GlideWear Technology

This Tamarack sitting pad can be used in bed or in a furniture type chair to provide a low friction interface. While not intended to be a transfer aide, it will make subtle movements easier and some users report using it to help them get into position on the bed or in the recliner chair.  Various sizes are available.

For additional information contact Tamarack Clinical Team


Tamarack Bed Surface Applications with GlideWear Technology

The bed surface is a location that often causes skin damage, most notably on the tailbone (sacrum and coccyx) and on the back of the heels and side ankle bones (calcaneus and malleolus) when a person is in bed for extended periods of time. Elevating the head of a hospital type bed increases shear forces 9due to gravity pulling the person downwards). Avoiding elevating the head of the bed is recommended, but not always possible to avoid. Turning, repositioning and using various pads are common ‘good practices’, and use of specialty skin protection mattresses help, but none of these practices/interventions also incorporates a way to reduce friction in the trouble/at risk areas.  Adding GlideWear strategically reduces the shear stress (from friction between the skin and the bedsheet). GlideWear pillowcases (GW-PCS), the GlideWear heel and ankle protection socks (GW-SX6), and GlideWear Underwear or Shorts are also effective additions for the person who is in bed for extended periods of time.  The following images show multiple ways that GlideWear has innovatively been used on bed surfaces:

Tamarack GlideWear™ Technology for Animal O&P


Tamarack Pillowcase with GlideWear™ Technology

Many people will benefit from a silk-like, very smooth pillowcase – even better if the coefficient of friction is less than  0.2, such as GlideWear offers. For people with a disability especially, a GlideWear pillowcase can offer increased comfort, skin protection (if a pillow is used under/between legs/feet or to prop/position a person in bed), and improved independent ability to move/reposition the head (example; in the case of a person with low muscle strength from spinal muscle atrophy, Duchene muscular dystrophy or other neuromuscular problems).


Epidermolysis Bullosa with GlideWear™ Technology

Epidermolysis bullosa (EB) is a rare condition in which the skin is so fragile that even the slightest bit of friction causes blistering, and even skin loss. According to Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa Research Association of America (debra of America), there are 20,000 people in the US living with EB.

The GlideWear™ Technology is a patented, ultra-low-friction fabric that’s widely used in medical and sports applications where skin is at risk for injury caused by friction, shear, rubbing, and breakdown. It’s a two-layer fabric that protects skin by gliding smoothly against itself and absorbing the harmful friction and shear that can damage skin.


For additional information contact Tamarack Clinical Team