Pressure Relief Devices Market Size & Share Analysis - Trends, Drivers, Competitive Landscape, and Forecasts (2025 - 2032)

Pressure Relief Devices Market Trends & Growth Drivers

Expanding Patient Pool Drives Market Growth

• The expanding pool of patients suffering from heart diseases, diabetes, and obesity is the major driver for the market.
• This is because these factors are associated with chronic diseases, many of which are themselves characterized by frequent ulcers, slow wound healing, and other conditions that lead to pressure buildup.
• Obese people are at a high risk of pressure ulcers, which happen due to restricted body movements and long periods of immobility, which lead to sustained pressure on certain body parts.
• The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates the global obesity prevalence at 1 in 8 people.
• As the associated incidence of pressure ulcers rises with the increasing obese population, the demand for devices to relieve the pressure and decrease pain will surge too.
• Another demographic that requires pressure relief devices is that suffering from burn injuries.
• As per studies, more than 9 million people around the world suffer from burns, which lead to long-term scarring and pain, thus severing diminishing the quality of life.
• Similarly, people with surgical wounds require pressure relief devices; hence, as the surgery volume increases globally, so will the business prospects for market players.

Complicated Reimbursement Scenario and High Product Costs Hamer Market Growth

• The growth of the pressure relief devices market is hampered by the lack of clarity on the reimbursement guidelines for these pieces of equipment and their already-high costs.
• Most countries’ regulations consider devices such as pressure relief mattresses and smart beds as elective ones and not something vital for the treatment of pressure ulcers.
• Hence, even in developed countries, reimbursement for them is either not available or too difficult and complicated to get.
• For instance, the CDC’s reimbursement guidelines do not accommodate stage III and IV ulcers acquired in a hospital.
• Since the cost of advanced mattresses and beds is quite high, the lack of reimbursement can significantly hamper the market growth.
• Further, in several developing countries, these devices are easily available on rent and at affordable rates, which restricts their sale to individual patients.
• Additionally, to qualify as pressure relief devices, beds and mattresses must show advanced functionality, for which they are severely tested and scrutinized by regulatory bodies, before approval.

Technological Advancements Create Business Opportunities

• The technological advancements in pain relief devices, especially pain relief mattresses, are creating opportunities for the companies already operating in the space as well as for startups.
• Various startup companies are introducing new technologies, such as machine learning and artificial intelligence, for smart pain relief mattresses.
• For instance, Care for Sweden has developed an AI-based platform that manages multiple alternating pressure mattresses in homecare and hospital settings.
• Smart therapeutic beds are creating value-added opportunities for the manufacturers.
• Because life-altering health occurrences incur excessive expenditures for individuals, healthcare practitioners are providing patients with comprehensive treatments, including advanced pressure relief beds.

Pressure Relief Devices Market Analysis

Product Type Insights

Low-tech devices account for the larger share, of 65%, in 2024, and they are expected to maintain their position during the forecast period, owing to their easy operability, cost-effectiveness, and high efficiency in the prevention of ulcers. Among the low-tech devices, foam-based mattresses are the major shareholders, as they absorb the pressure of movement, which helps in uninterrupted sleep, while relieving the pain.

Gel-based mattresses are expected to witness the fastest growth during the forecast period due to their stronger therapeutic benefits in comparison to other types of low-tech mattresses.

The high-tech devices category is projected to undergo the faster growth during the forecast period, owing to the technological innovations for the prevention and treatment of pressure ulcers. Among these devices, dynamic air therapy beds hold the largest share as they help in reducing the need for hospitalization in long-care facilities for pressure ulcers.

The kinetic beds category, within high-tech devices, is likely to have the fastest growth in the coming years, as they reduce the pulmonary complications for prolonged-bedrest patients. Moreover, these beds are popular in the developed economies of North America and Europe; however, developing economies, especially those in the Asia-Pacific region, are also recognizing the advantages of kinetic beds and adopting them in their healthcare infrastructure, thereby driving the market significantly.

These product types are covered:

• Low-Tech Devices (Larger Category)
  • Foam Based Mattress
  • Gel Based Mattress
  • Fiber Filled Mattress
  • Water Filled Mattress
  • Air Filled Device Mattress
• High-Tech Devices (Faster-Growing Category)
  • Dynamic Air Therapy Beds
  • Kinetic Beds

End User Analysis

The major end user of these devices is hospitals, and the same trend is expected throughout this decade. The hospital infrastructure has been improving over the years, and patients are willing to spend more in order to avail these facilities. Because these places handle most of the people with pressure ulcers, burns, and surgical needs, they are the initial users of pressure relief beds. Moreover, because of the complicated reimbursement scenario, only well-funded hospitals are able to afford such equipment, especially that with technologically advanced features.

Long-term care centers will have the highest CAGR during the forecast period, of 8%. This is credited to the burgeoning geriatric population (60 years and older), which is set to reach 1.4 billion by 2030 and 2.1 billion by 2030, as per the WHO. Due to long periods of immobility, they are prone to ulcers and other complications that lead to pressure buildup. Moreover, in developed countries, most of this population lives in old-age homes, long-term care centers, and hospice facilities. Hence, as the older population with pressure buildup issues grows, so will the demand for relief devices at long-term care centers.

We have analyzed the below-mentioned end users:

• Hospitals (Largest Category)
• Clinics
• Long-Term Care Centers (Fastest-Growing Category)
• Others

Application Insights

Pressure ulcers dominate the market with 60% revenue in 2024, and they are also the fastest-growing category, attributed to the rising incidence of this condition. A key cause of pressure ulcers is diabetes, as high levels of blood glucose over long periods hampers wound healing. The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) expects the number of people with this endocrinological condition to reach 643 million by 2030 from 537 million in 2021.

The report offers insights into the following applications:

• Pressure Ulcers (Largest and Fastest-Growing Category)
• Burns
• Surgical Wounds
• Others

Regional Analysis

The North American market share (40%) is the largest, and the region is expected to maintain its dominance in the future due to the high prevalence of pressure ulcers in the region. Additionally, the existence of a mature reimbursement network, along with the government funding, is fueling the growth. Canada, with its strong focus on healthcare infrastructure, is, likewise, contributing to the market significantly, as hospitals largely utilize pain relief devices for treating pressure ulcers.

The U.S. is the major country in North America, and it is likely to undergo the faster growth during the forecast period. The growth is attributed to the surge in the research and development of new products, along with the presence of a large number of leading players in the country. For instance, a team of researchers at the Northwestern University has created a small, flexible, soft, implant that relieves pain without the need for drugs.

Europe is the second-highest revenue contributor to the market, driven by the high diagnosis and treatment rate of pressure ulcers in Western Europe, along with the strong healthcare infrastructure. Moreover, various organizations host awareness campaigns related to pressure ulcers; for instance, the European Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel (EPUAD) holds the ‘Stop Pressure Ulcer Day’ on the third Thursday every November, to create awareness.

Germany contributes the highest revenue to the Europe’s market as it accounts for the largest elderly population in the continent, followed by the U.K. and France, thus resulting in the high adoption of pressure-relieving mattresses here. Moreover, the country has a large number of medical device companies, such as Stryker Corporation and Invacare Corporation, that offer such products.

The U.K. is the second-largest market in Europe, and it is likely to grow substantially in the coming years, owing to the reforms in the medical device regulations published by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in June 2022 to improve patient safety and encourage innovation.

APAC is the third-largest market, and it is set to witness the fastest growth, at 8.5% CAGR, during the forecast period. The major factor contributing to this growth is the strategic alliances between the major players and local vendors. Various multinational companies are investing in developing countries, such as China, India, and South Korea, to reach a wider consumer base.

China is the major market in the region, and its revenue contribution is likely to surge at a significant rate during the forecast period, as it is one of the top medical device markets worldwide. The existence of diverse local manufacturers, as well as an increasing presence of overseas companies, combined with government initiatives, are expected to drive the market expansion.

The regional breakdown of the market is as follows:

• North America (Largest Regional Market)
  • U.S. (Larger and Faster-Growing Country Market)
  • Canada
• Europe
  • Germany (Largest Country Market)
  • France
  • U.K. (Fastest-Growing Country Market)
  • Italy
  • Spain
  • Rest of Europe
• Asia-Pacific (APAC) (Fastest-Growing Regional Market)
  • China (Largest Country Market)
  • India (Fastest-Growing Country Market)
  • Japan
  • Australia
  • South Korea
  • Rest of APAC
• Latin America (LATAM)
  • Brazil (Largest Country Market)
  • Mexico (Fastest-Growing Country Market)
  • Rest of LATAM
• Middle East and Africa (MEA)
  • Saudi Arabia (Largest Country Market)
  • South Africa (Fastest-Growing Country Market)
  • U.A.E.
  • Rest of MEA

Pressure Relief Devices Market Share

• The pressure relief market is fragmented as there is a large variety of products on offer, including mattresses, overlays, and cushions.
• Moreover, they come in various composition, such as foam, gel, air, and fiber, for different demographics with various pressure-related issues.
• Additionally, different kinds of products with varying functionalities are targeted at hospitals, long-term care centers, and clinics, often based on their budget.
• Many times, the products need to be customized as per the application and individual patients’ bodies, thus offering opportunities to new and smaller companies too.

Pressure Relief Devices Market News

• In October 2024, Direct Healthcare Group Ltd. acquired Sumed International Ltd. to strengthen its capabilities in pressure ulcer prevention and management.
• In August 2024, Arjo AB opened a new facility, almost 50% larger than the existing one, to reprocess its medical devices.
• In April 2024, Smith & Nephew plc released clinical results on its ALLEVYN LIFE Dressing for preventing pressure injuries.
• In March 2022, Minocasa, a U.S.-based home products supplier, launched the 12’’ hybrid mattress Mino, which has a three-zone pressure relief system consisting of over 1,000 individually wrapped spring coils.
• In January 2022, Corsicana, a mattress manufacturer, launched RENUE’s Adapti-Gel Matrix comfort layer for stronger pressure point relief, while sleeping, for maximum comfort and support.