Here are the basics that every consumer should know about how to select a cushion:
-Gel cushions offer the most support and are favored by people who want a firmer cushion that compresses or conforms less than foam. These are sometimes favored by larger users who need more support or people with rigid metal or hard seating that has no cushion at all. Gel offers relief to pressure points and although it is heavier than other cushion materials, gel enhanced seat cushions are a favorite for wheelchair users, long-distance drivers, and people who endure serious bodily pain in any anatomical region.
-Memory foam cushions are softer and compress more than gel, conform to the body, and offer a lower degree of support than gel. However, memory foam does a good job for buckets seats and places where the cushion needs to conform more to the shape to add comfort. Truck drivers often buy memory foam cushions to relieve the stress on the body that comes from lengthy work periods.
-Orthopedic cushions are specially-designed to help sufferers of coccyx pain (tailbone pain), lumbar pain and other particular kinds of muscular or bone-related complaints. Usually, orthopedic seat cushions have a cut-out area that allows the body to rest upon the surrounding cushion material while letting the painful area remain freely suspending between the cushioned areas, as is the case with a coccyx cushion.