Technical Abstract: Decubitus pressure ulcers are a worldwide health crisis and their prevention and treatment has become a national priority. The National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Board estimates that as many as three million people in the United States have pressure ulcers. The causes of the ailment include both extrinsic and intrinsic factors. Patients are at high risk due to numerable intrinsic risk factors including mobility, age, nutrition, sensory perception, and disease. However reduction of extrinsic risk factors related to the patient’s support surface should coincide with decreased incidence of pressure ulcers. Risk factors fundamental to the interfacial forces acting on the bony prominence areas of the patient’s body in contact with the support surfaces can be improved upon with innovatively designed medical textile systems. The interfacial forces include pressure, shear, and friction. Textiles incorporating pressure ulcer detection devices that measure pressure and shear are a growing area of prevention technology. The biophysical design of the support surface and textiles coming in contact with the patient’s body must take into account body temperature, moisture, water transport, and microbial contamination due to incontinence. The application of new polymer gels, foams, woven, non-woven, and multifunctional finishing technologies to medical textile products, engineered to treat pressure ulcers, is required to address improvements in the behavior of support surfaces, the latter including mattresses, cushions, overlays, sheets, and incontinence pads. The best treatment of pressure ulcers is their prevention through optimal care.