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Team building mind-controlled prosthetic devices By Dominic Musgrave AMERICAN researchers are helping the Pentagon build reliable mind-controlled prosthetic devices for military and civilian amputees. Badrinat Roysam, chair of the University of Houston’s department of electrical and computer engineering, and Hugh and Lillie Cranz Cullen University professor, is leading a multi-institution team effort to identify the combination of factors that cause neural implants to fail. He said prosthetic limbs that can be maneuvered by neural implants have shown promise in the laboratory, but there are challenges to making them work in the real world. “The tissue surrounding the device undergoes complex changes that in the end isolate it electrically,” Badrinat added. “At this point the implant stops functioning. “We have pre-eminent leaders in implant design, 3D multispectral imaging, quantitative histology, and pattern recognition on our team. Ideally, the team will be able to make great strides in the understanding of neural implant failure, which can fail within six to eight weeks. “DARPA has a vision of a future where a soldier who has lost a limb will regain full use of that limb again through advanced technology.” Badrinat and his group have received a three-
year, $5.4m grant from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), the military's high-tech research agency. Researchers from Seattle Children's Research Institute, the University of Michigan, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and two companies also are involved in the project. The grant is part of DARPA's Histology for Interface Stability Over Time program, which is the next phase of its Revolutionizing Prosthetics project that began in 2000. The grant money is allocated in two phases, with $3.2m being awarded immediately and the remaining $2.2m based on performance. The work will begin in Michigan, where a team led by professor Daryl Kipke will build specialised neural implants for use in laboratory testing. Researchers at the Seattle institute, under the direction of William Shain, will take threedimensional images of how different brain cells are reacting to an implant. The images will be transmitted to Houston, where Badrinat’s team will run them through a sophisticated and powerful software platform called FARSIGHT, which will analyse the histology, or cellular make up, of the images. Developed by a collaborative team led by Badrinat, FARSIGHT will translate the images into data that quantifies the response of each individual brain cell and cell type to the implant.
Television and radio presenter Toby Anstis will host the first UK Wheelchair Challenge this summer. The event will form part of the annual South West Disability Show at the Westpoint, Exeter, which takes place on June 9 and 10. A 1km race is open to anybody in a wheelchair along with their carers and parents, while the 3km event will be held for more serious amateur sportsmen and women over a more challenging course. The Challenge, sponsored by GM Coachwork, will also benefit disabled charities.
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US claims that new joints could be grown from own cells By Dominic Musgrave PATIENTS who need joint replacement surgery could one day be given a new joint grown from their own cells instead of an artificial one, American scientists claim. Researchers at the University of Missouri have found a way to create so-called biological joints in animals, and have succeeded in creating new cartilage in animals using a biological ‘scaffold’ in their joints. The scaffolds were infused with a growth factor to encourage the animals’ own stem cells to become cartilage and bone cells. They were then implanted in rabbits, whose ‘ball’ part of their ball-andsocket shoulder joint had been removed to accommodate the scaffold. Dr James Cook, a researcher in the university’s College of Veterinary Medicine and Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, said: “The
device was designed with both biological and mechanical factors in mind. It is unique in design and composition and in how it stimulates the body's own cells. This is the first time we have seen cartilage regeneration using this type of scaffold.” The researchers found that rabbits which were given the new infused scaffolds were able to use their limbs more quickly and consistently than those which were not. After four months, cartilage was found to have formed in the scaffolds and there were no complications or side-effects as a result of the surgery. James said the team now plan to continue their research in larger animals, taking them a step closer to clinical trials in humans. He added: “The ultimate goal is to do away with metal and plastic joints and instead regenerate a fully functional biologic joint for everyone who needs one. We think this is the future of orthopaedics and we hope
Contacts Editorial Andrew Harrod Group Editor editorial@assistivetechnologies.co.uk Dominic Musgrave Healthcare Editor Email: dm@whpl.net Tel: 01226 734407
that future is starting here and now.” A spokeswoman for Arthritis Research UK, whose scientists are about to embark on their first clinical trial using stem cells for osteoarthritis of the knee, said: “There are huge challenges in this area of research and there is still a lot we need to understand about these new techniques. “But with extensive work to understand stem cell behaviour and using this knowledge to develop methods to engineer new cartilage, researchers have already made great progress towards developing the solutions we need for the future.” Up to 70 people with established knee osteoarthritis will take part in the charity-funded trial which will test and compare the effectiveness of two types of stem cells. The aim is to repair damage to the joint, stopping osteoarthritis from getting worse and delaying or avoiding the need for knee replacement surgery.
Louise Cordell Reporter Email: lcordell@whpl.net Tel: 01226 734694
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Brave physio student helped casualties of roadside accident
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By Louise Cordell
taking control of the medical treatment.
A FOURTH year physiotherapy student has been recognised for her bravery at a roadside accident.
Aine, who has since completed a module in military leadership in practice, said: “I never expected to be recognised for what I did, it was a lovely surprise.
Aine Scott, a senior under officer at Aberdeen Universities’ Officers' Training Corp), was awarded a certificate of commendation from the General Officer Commanding 2nd Division for highly meritorious service to the Army in Scotland, North of England and Northern Ireland at a special ceremony at Aberdeen University. Last June she was part of a battlefield study party travelling via coach to Northern France that had stopped for lunch on the M6. Shortly afterwards, a minibus carrying 12 passengers travelling at approximately 70 miles per hour passed the coach and flipped on to its roof, crashing into the central barrier before coming to a rest in the carriageway.
Aine with her mother Catherine at the ceremony
As minor casualties were being removed through the windscreen, Aine arrived at the scene and started prioritising casualties,
“I reacted to what happened in the way I have been trained to and was just doing what was expected of me. I am just so glad that I was able to help and make a difference to the victims of the road accident.” She stayed in the minibus with a trapped elderly Asian woman who could not speak English, with severe cuts to her head and a badly broken wrist. Aine positioned herself so that the casualty's head was resting on her lap, and provided her with constant reassurance while tending to her wounds. Fifteen minutes after the initial crash, the emergency services arrived and Aine's professionalism was so marked that, despite the presence of paramedics, police and fire services personnel, she was designated to stay with the main casualty while the emergency services cut the minibus open.
Half-century celebration for prosthetic technician David A PROSTHETIC technician is celebrating his 50th year in the industry. David Buckland joined Ortho Europe as a school leaver in 1960, beginning his career training as a technician in the leather workshop. Alongside others in the team, he now produces and repairs a wide variety of conventional prosthetic leather components including sockets, liners and straps. The company’s managing director John O’Byrne said: “Despite the 4
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advances in limb technology in the last five decades, David and colleagues still provide a vital service for those patients who continue to use more conventional limbs. “Our team of conventional technicians is vital to provide choice to patients, and David’s vast knowledge and expertise in producing leather components will have benefitted thousands of people over the years.” David was recently recognised by the British Healthcare Trades Association at their annual awards ceremony.
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Danish firm in mobility system ‘world first’ A DANISH mobility company has launched an overhead lifting system that it claims will revolutionise the way care homes and hospitals are adapted for elderly and disabled people in the UK. The Ergolet system is the world’s first wall-mounted mobility system. It covers the full length and breadth of the room, and allows the most immobile patients, who are usually reliant upon floor hoists or overhead tracking systems, to reach all corners of the room. Based on two patented technologies, the wall-mounted Etrack and Luna lifting unit, the system can be used to adapt almost any environment for disabled living, and can be used by a single care-giver, reducing attendance costs for disabled or immobile patients. The Etrack is fitted on opposite walls along the length of the room, a traverse bar is fitted to it to span the width of the room, and the Luna lifting unit is suspended from the traverse bar. A hand-held ‘remote control’ device controls lifting and lowering, and movement around the room. Forwards and backwards movement is motor powered, while the carer can assist with movement left and right.
New software tool can help understanding of mobility challenges MOBILITY challenges facing older people can be better understood by clinicians, healthcare practitioners and design professionals thanks to a new innovative software tool. Initial research findings from a research collaboration between The Glasgow School of Art and the University of Strathclyde, supported by the UK Research Councils’ New Dynamics of Ageing programme (NDA), evaluated software which enables older people to work with professionals and suggest ways to improve their lifestyle and quality of life. The software tool presents data visually and this allows those without specialist training – both professionals and older people – to better understand and contribute to discussions about the mechanics of movement, known as biomechanics, when carrying out everyday activities. The software takes motion capture data and muscle strength measurements from older people
Glasgow School of Art professor Alastair Macdonald said: “The visualisation software is a simple yet highly effective tool to help older people and professionals explain, discuss and address mobility problems. “Better understanding of older people’s mobility can help healthcare professionals improve diagnosis or treatment of problems, and design professionals to adapt the way they design for older people.” These demands or stresses are then shown as a percentage of maximum capability through a colour gradient: green is zero per cent, amber is 50 per cent and red is 100 per cent or maximum stress. The research shows the new
software tool has the potential to improve diagnostic, therapeutic, communication and education procedures by increasing the use and integration of biomechanical expertise in both design and healthcare practices. Alastair added: “The visualisation software could be used to improve the designer’s understanding of the different needs when developing products for older people, including enhancing the ergonomic and as well as the functional attributes of products, and improving the design of landscapes and buildings.” “In a healthcare setting the tool could be used as part of a range of assessment techniques. It could improve the understanding by different healthcare professions of older people’s mobility challenges and improve communication across these professions to provide a more joined-up approach to clinical assessment, diagnosis and rehabilitation.”
Donation funds new patient monitor AN East Cheshire hospital has purchased a new patient monitor and stand with the help of a donation from a local building society. Macclesfield District General Hospital has purchased a Masimo SET patient monitor and stand for its orthopaedics department thanks to the £500 contribution from Leek United Building Society. The device accurately tracks
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undertaking everyday activities. The software then generates a 3D animated human stick figure on which the biomechanical demands of the activities are represented visually at the joints.
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and trends the pulse rates in patients with poor flow of blood through the organs and weak pulses. Orthopaedic unit manager Kath Barnes said: “The new Masimo SET will allow patients in the department to be non invasively monitored using the most technologically and clinically advanced pulse rate technology available. “It provides real time measurements and new clinical detail that expands
on patient monitoring beyond the traditional standard of care.” The continuous tracking of blood pressure, pulse rate and fluid status will mean we will be able to make better healthcare decisions faster. “The monitor also significantly reduce false alarms and also facilitates early detection of life threatening conditions and helps to guide patient treatment options,” he added.
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Hip replacement study to look at impact of surgery AN INTERNATIONAL team of scientists are embarking on a study which will look at the impact of hip replacement surgery on older people’s employment and retirement decisions. The research will be led by scientists at the Universita Bocconi in Milan, and will also involve experts at the University of York and Johns Hopkins University in America. Lead investigator Dr Ruben MujicaMota said hip replacement surgery can help to reduce pain, restore physical mobility and improve quality of life for patients with arthritis. He added: “We chose to study hip replacement in continental Europe, England and the United States because of the country variations in incentives for retirement and the
number of older adults still in the workforce. We aim to contribute evidence to the growing debate in these countries over policy measures to reduce the gap between available tax revenues and the public expenditures required to provide social security and pension benefits.” The international consortium hope to find out whether hip replacement surgery enables people to remain at work, and whether a greater number of patients could benefit from the procedure. They will examine the economic and socio-demographic factors that influence an individual’s decision about hip replacement surgery, drawing information from the English Longitudinal Study of Aging and similar datasets from Europe and America.
Company honoured at summit BEBIONIC was among the companies honoured by the Digital Health Summit and Microsoft in helping to advance best practices for the advancement of digital health. The Digital Health Summit focused on the growing market of consumer-based innovations that
sit at the convergence of technology and healthcare. The event, held at the 2011 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, brought together wellknown health and technology players and experts to explore trends and technologies leading the way and explore its future.
Professor Trish Connolly
Scottish firms work together to reach market By Dominic Musgrave A NETWORK to help Scottish companies tap into the £170bn global medical technologies market has been unveiled at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow. Strathclyde MedTech will see businesses and academics working together to bring the next generation of healthcare technologies to market – from new imaging and diagnostic equipment, to devices to help older patients manage health problems at home. Technology firms have stressed that if they are to take advantage of the sector's potential and create the complex products sought by cost conscious clinicians and patients, specialist advice and support is required. Professor Trish Connolly, director of the Strathclyde Institute of Medical Devices, where the new initiative is based, said: “Scottish companies have a long history of success in engineering new technologies, and they are ideally placed to pioneer the next generation of healthcare devices needed by patients around the globe. “But the medical technologies of the future can only be created through a fusion of engineering,
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science and medicine. “Strathclyde MedTech will lower the barrier to innovation in the medical technology sector, by providing companies with the support and advice needed to navigate complex regulatory and technical issues. “We will be looking to work with both companies already involved in medical device development, and those in other sectors, including electronics, textiles, healthcare and even automotive component companies.” Strathclyde MedTech will provide companies with advice and support, as well as encouraging Scottish companies to collaborate with the university and other firms. Funding will be available to help firms work with the university through consultancy or research projects, including feasibility studies and testing for technologies in areas including diagnostics, cardiovascular devices, rehabilitation and assisted living, drug delivery, biomaterials and cell / tissue engineering. The venture has received £376,000 from the Scottish Government’s SEEKIT fund, and nearly £308,000 from the European Regional Development Fund.
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Regional variations exposed in stroke care review By Louise Cordell
therapy or stroke counsellors.
THE way patients are supported in coping with life after stroke varies significantly across England, it has been claimed.
Chief executive Cynthia Bower said “Stroke is the single largest cause of disability in adults, and our evidence shows early access to intense rehabilitation is beneficial to people’s recovery.
A major review by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) on stroke care has found the extent to which patients are supported in coping with life after stroke varies significantly across England. The CQC report found that rehabilitation services after transfer home from hospital were inconsistent across the country, and people in some areas had little or no access to stroke specialist communitybased rehabilitation. The commission found only two-thirds of PCTs commissioned specialist stroke physiotherapy, and less than 40 per cent of areas provided good access to psychological
“Services have made improvements over recent years in the care provided in the hours and days that follow their stroke. It is vital that this momentum is maintained, and that improvements are made in the care and support provided in the longer term. “The level of variation is a concern, but the report also shows that the barriers to effective care after transfer home and around person centred care can be overcome and improvements made, which can help people to recover from, and cope with, life after stroke.”
The study also found that most people are given a pack of information when they leave hospital, but it is often poorly organised – around 40 per cent of people said it was easy to find things in them and only 40 per cent of these packs contained good information on local services. Services were not always adapting well to meet people’s needs, such as the communications needs of people with aphasia or the needs of people who do not speak English. Cynthia added: “We expect to see local health and social services working with stroke survivors, carers and representative groups to agree and implement a plan to improve services drawing on the results of our assessments of services in local areas.”
Cynthia Bower
NHS failing chronic pain sufferers – report THE NHS is failing people with chronic pain according to a new report from The Patients Association. The national healthcare charity claims that approximately 7.8 million people live with pain daily, yet there is only one pain specialist for every 32,000 sufferers. The report found more than a third of those questioned said they had suffered from chronic pain at some time. But of the 1,200 with chronic pain who responded, only 23 per cent had been referred to a specialist. Chartered Society of Physiotherapy chief executive Phil Gray said including the many physiotherapists who are also pain specialists would significantly improve the ratio of
specialists to patients given in the report. He added: “Physiotherapy is proven to be an effective treatment for chronic pain that enables people to live full and active lives. “But the NHS must address regional variations in access to care, and we also call on GPs to recognise the importance of services such as ours in helping people to tackle this debilitating condition.” The Patients Association is asking the government and healthcare professionals to establish a clear care pathway for pain services in the NHS, to recognise pain as a disease in its own right and to ensure that patients have access to the information they need.
Scuba diving limb developed A PROSTHETIST has developed a specialist limb for scuba diving which features a lockable ankle, buoyancy weights and even a knife. PACE prosthetist Jamie Gillespie, who manufactured the device for a trip to Egypt, said: “Many of our 10
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clients want to participate in activities often previously enjoyed before their limb loss. “Meeting those needs can result in some very bespoke devices, such as this one, although the diving knife is perhaps an unusual feature on a prosthesis.”
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Review into care of army amputees By Dominic Musgrave THE government has launched a review of how the NHS looks after former British service personnel who lost limbs serving their country. Armed Forces charities have raised concerns that the civilian health service is not adequately equipped to support amputee veterans to the same standard provided at the military's Headley Court rehabilitation centre in Surrey. Dr Andrew Murrison, a former Royal Navy medical officer who is now Conservative MP for south west Wiltshire, will lead the review. He will look at future funding for technologically advanced prosthetic limbs, minimising the ‘postcode lottery’ in services and the role of service charities like the the British Limbless Ex-Service Men's Association. Health minister Simon Burns said: “I am grateful to the service charities for bringing this to our attention. “We remain firmly committed to ensuring that military personnel will continue to receive the standard of prosthetics issued by the Ministry of Defence at Headley Court when they are discharged.
“Service personnel risk everything in the service of this country and the NHS must provide the first class care that these brave men and women rightly deserve and help to improve their health outcomes.” British Limbless Ex Service Men’s Association (BLESMA) general secretary Jerome Church welcomed the decision, calling it a ‘significant milestone’. He added: “While we recognise the excellent prosthetic support provided at the Defence Medical Services at Headley Court, our long experience in this area has led us to doubt that such provision can be as easily carried forward by the NHS as and when veterans enter civilian life. We note the review will be wide ranging and address such concerns as regional variation in provision, the future funding of high specification prosthetic equipment and the possible contribution of individual budgets in such arrangements. It also represents a significant opportunity to address issues that date back many years and to improve the support that should be a right for the many veterans of earlier conflicts and who deserve the level of care that this review seeks to identify.” Andrew is expected to report his findings by the end of June.
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A quadruple amputee who had to be rescued just short of reaching Mount Kilimanjaro’s summit has been made an MBE. Ray Edwards (pictured), who was raising money for his Limbcare charity, contracted a chest infection and had to be carried down on a stretcher by teammates and porters.
Leading limb-loss charities are looking for cyclists for 300km ride THREE of the country's leading limbloss charities are appealing for cyclists to take part in a 300km bike ride this autumn. LimbPower, The Douglas Bader Foundation and the Limbless Association have joined forces for the 300km weekend-long event
from London to Paris, which will finish at the Eiffel Tower. All money raised from the challenge, which takes place from September 30 to October 3, will be shared equally between the three charities after the administration and tour costs.
Society call over £162m extra rehab funding THE Chartered Society of Physiotherapy is calling on community health services and councils to ensure physiotherapy services get an appropriate share of the extra £162million the government announced for rehabilitation.
delayed discharge from hospital costs the NHS tens of millions of pounds a year.
PCTs in England are receiving the extra funding to help get patients off wards and free up hospital beds through investment in rehabilitation services and social care.
“It is grossly unfair to leave in hospital someone who is well enough to go home. It can lead to a critical gap in the patient’s rehabilitation and to social isolation.
The funding comes amid widespread concern that spending cuts being enforced on local authorities will hit delivery of key council services and many patients are already being left in hospital because they cannot afford to go home.
“We must do everything we can to allow people to lead independent lives and remain part of their community.”
Chief executive Phil Gray said
He added: “Physiotherapy is a critical component of any rehabilitation programme, and we urge commissioners to ensure it receives the funding it needs.
Trusts and local authorities will work together to decide how best to use the money to relieve pressure on hospitals. ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGIES I FEBRUARY/MARCH 2011
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A new research programme which could significantly speed up and improve recovery for victims of stroke has been launched. Dominic Musgrave reports.
Volunteers sought for daily training regime THE University of Southampton is calling for volunteers affected by loss of arm and hand function through stroke to take part in a daily training regime involving electrical brain stimulation combined with robotic training. The study is believed to be the first in the world combining transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) with rehabilitation robots, for the hand and arm and will take three years to complete. If the treatment proves to be as successful as expected, it is intended that a version of the tDCS machine will be developed for use at home, providing a better recovery outcome for patients and significant cost savings for the NHS. Welsh company Magstim Limited, which developed and manufactured the electrical brain stimulator to be used in the study, is planning to develop the homeuse device.
The research team from across the university will be led by professor of restorative neuroscience, Jane Burridge, of the Faculty of Heath Sciences, with support from Dr Ann-Marie Hughes and a PhD student grant-funded by the Maltese government. Jane said: “Anyone who has had to endure the debilitating affects of a stroke either themselves or in helping a loved one in that situation will know just how difficult it can be. “Through our research, and with the help of people who have had a stroke, we are really hoping to transform the recovery process and make life more manageable for those who find themselves in that situation in the future. “It’s an incredibly exciting time for the faculty,and an honour to be working with such an incredible team.” Funded by Wessex Medical Trust, the research forms part of the Faculty’s Rehabilitation and Health
Lecturer receives largest research award after Society recommendation By Dominic Musgrave A SENIOR lecturer from the University of the West of England has received a bumper funding award following a recommendation from the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy’s scientific panel. The £249,000 given to Dr Nicola Walsh will fund research into the clinical and cost-effectiveness of prescribing exercise and selfmanagement for older people with chronic joint pain. She said: “It’s the largest award ever given by the CSP charitable trust and we’re delighted to have the opportunity to conduct research into an important area that is quite often overlooked.’ Another key recipient of the society’s annual funding awards is Dr Rachel Garrod, consultant physiotherapist at 14
Kings College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. She received almost £109,000 for her research into the efficacy of physiotherapy, speech and language therapy intervention (PSALTI) for patients with chronic cough. The charitable trust has also awarded funding to four students for their physiotherapy research abstracts. The awardees are Judith Purton, Ulrike Hammerbeck, Amanda Austin and Hilary Gunn. Additional funding was provided to nine physiotherapists – David Thompson, Harriet Shannon, Samy Selvanayagam, Terry Pountney, Sheila Lennon, Ayfer Kahraman, Jonathan Hill, Stuart Heron and Chris Bleakley – in support of their presentations to the World Confederation for Physical Therapy, which takes place in Amsterdam in June.
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Technologies Research Group, part of a larger programme of research into the use of robots in rehabilitation of the hand and arm. The research team includes a group of control engineers led by Professor Eric Rogers and Dr Chris Freeman, expert researchers in electronics and computer sciences. The Rehabilitation and Health Technologies Research Group is also undertaking basic science research to understand how the human brain can be made more ‘excitable’ through the use of tDCS. It is thought that this reignites the damaged part of the brain, better preparing it to form new connections when undergoing robotic training. Jane added: “The research team will also be working with Hocoma, the Swiss medical technology company, and robot’s originator, to further develop the technology to include electrical stimulation for the hand, and with John Rothwell, professor of human
Jane Burridge puts a volunteer through his paces. neurophysiology at the Institute of Neurology, University College London.” The robot element of the research is UK government funded through the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).
Seven-day-a-week physio ‘an overwhelming success’ THE introduction of physiotherapy seven days a week for patients who have suffered a stroke at an Essex hospital has been an overwhelming success. The new scheme at Southend University Hospital has also led to patients being able to get home sooner. Joanne Lay, clinical specialist in neurological physiotherapy, said the weekend access to physiotherapy had led to the hospital becoming one of the country’s leading stroke units. She added: “Before we introduced the new system, patients receiving thrombolysis (clot-busting drugs) could wait 72 hours to see a physiotherapist. “The National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) and
the Royal College of Physicians recommend stroke patients should be assessed by a therapist within 24 hours. “New therapy rotas were drawn up and, after a four-month pilot trial of weekend working proved the worth of the new scheme, it became a permanent arrangement last year. “That, together with other improvements in the service, has brought the average length of stay on the stroke unit down from nearly 18 days to 11.” She said an additional benefit for physiotherapy staff is that they no longer spend all day Monday assessing the weekend’s intake of new patients – sometimes as many as 20 – rather than actually providing therapy.
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Local council invests in physio clinic A NEW physiotherapy clinic has opened in Garstang thanks to investment finance from the local authority. Eason Physiotherapy Limited has received financial support from Lancashire county council’s Rosebud scheme to bring an empty property in the town into economic use. The company, run by husband and wife team Simon and Lynley Eason, will improve the physiotherapy provision for local people. Lancashire-born Simon has worked in health and physiotherapy in both the public and private sectors, while New Zealand-born Lynley has experience in both her native land and in the UK. Simon said the clinic aims to expand to include other health services over forthcoming months. He added: “We are passionate about offering a high quality service and treating our patients with respect and honesty in an environment which is clean, warm, and welcoming.” Funding for Rosebud is provided by Lancashire County Developments Ltd – the county council's economic development company – as part of its broad package of investment and advice.
Craig travels to school with satellite technology By Christina Eccles
independent in their own homes.
AN Edinburgh special needs pupil has become the first in Scotland to learn to travel to school on his own using satellite technology.
And the success could lead to other schools in the capital using the system.
Craig Nibloe, from Pilrig Park School, spent five weeks using the GPS device as he got the bus from his home to school and college. He can now travel independently without the need for school transport, which allows him to have the opportunity to go to college to complete further education courses. The city council has become the first local authority in the country to use the technology to train special needs pupils. Head teacher Ellen Muir said: “Self travel training is always timeconsuming for our staff but this technology means we can concentrate on those pupils who need a higher level of support and
Craig Nibloe receives a certificate of achievement from councillor Paul Edie
train more children to gain more confidence and become independent. “One of the biggest pluses is that students need to be able to self travel so they can attend college so now we should have more taking up further education with more career opportunities being opened up.” Its success builds on previous pioneering telecare initiatives, which have helped hundreds of older people in the capital remain
The pupil carries the hand held SkyGuard GPS device while the teacher is able to rely on the computer system to tell them the exact location of the pupil, with the added reassurance of two way communication and an SOS facility. Councillor Paul Edie, health and social care and housing leader added: “Using this technology to help pupils make their own way to and from school is a natural progression, and the amazing progress Craig has made shows how beneficial the system is.” Traditionally special needs pupils are taught self travel by teachers who have to accompany them over an average eight-week period as they travel from their homes to school.
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Hopes that ‘smart’ prosthesis will transform life for amputees By Dominic Musgrave BRITISH researchers hope a ‘smart’ prosthesis they are developing could transform the lives of amputees. A group of Bournemouth academics hope the work they are carrying out at the university's Design Simulation Research Centre might also transform the lives of amputee soldiers injured in Iraq and Afghanistan, and potentially return them to active service. Using artificial intelligence and new technology, professor Siamak Noroozi and his team are developing a prosthetic socket that is able to measure the individual interactions between the socket and the stump of a limb. He said research has shown a lot of people are dissatisfied with their prosthetic sockets. “Currently, prosthetic limbs are made of two components: the leg – the mechanical part, which connects the person to the ground
‘The socket can be used to monitor the progress of the person, telling us what is happening when they are static, or walking, or running, or going up stairs, to create a load profile and then judge whether those load profiles result in a comfortable or painful socket’ – and the socket, which connects the mechanical part to the body." Siamak said. “But that interface can be very comfortable or very painful and can definitely generate pain if not designed properly. “You cannot create the perfect prosthetic socket that has the same feeling as your normal leg, but you should be able to get a socket with a profile that can be modified to create an optimum comfort level, and then maintain that whether the person is walking, sitting and so on.” The team hope to create a ‘virtual’ socket, which can record data to
see how it reacts to different loads, and react to the incoming information to ensure the socket maintains a state of comfort for the user at all times. Siamak added: “For many years, research has been carried out to try to improve the fitting process for prosthetic limbs, but from what we know, none of this research resulted in a clinical tool that can inform processes about the quality of the fit, or the changes made during the fitting process, or what happens as a result of those changes. “So, if you modify the socket –
making it better or worse – there's no qualitative tool that can tell you the variation of the resultant pressure after the changes you make to it. “The socket can be used to monitor the progress of the person, telling us what is happening when they are static, or walking, or running, or going up stairs, to create a load profile and then judge whether those load profiles result in a comfortable or painful socket. “That would mean we could transform every individual socket so it suits the person specifically and any required adjustments can be done very quickly. This should reduce the time it takes to fit each individual socket and possibly extend the life of sockets from six to nine months, as at the moment, to several years.” The project has received funding from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council and the medical charity Remedi.
NEWS
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Device aids ‘foot drop’ sufferers
NEWS
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Gemma Darley with father Kevin at her graduation
By Louise Cordell
Jockey dad inspires Gemma
A NEW device has been installed at a Cheshire hospital to improve the walking ability of people suffering from the form of lower leg paralysis known as foot drop.
A NEWLY qualified physiotherapist says she was inspired to join the profession as a youngster after seeing how treatment helped her champion jockey father to recover after races.
His career highlights included winning two English classic races, the Guineas and the St Leger, and the title of champion jockey in 2000. Kevin is now chief executive of the Professional Jockey’s Association.
Gemma Darley has fulfilled her ambition by graduating with a first class physiotherapy degree, and has gained a junior physiotherapy post working for the North Tees and Hartlepool NHS foundation trust.
Gemma said: “From when I was 12 I used to see my dad have physiotherapy regularly and I was fascinated by the process.
Originally from Lower Dunsforth, near York, her father is Kevin Darley, a retired jockey who rode for 32 years.
“What stuck with me was how it was like a jigsaw, trying to fit all the pieces together to bring about a successful treatment. It was then I decided this was going to be my future career.”
The WalkAide system introduced by East Cheshire NHS Trust at Macclesfield District General Hospital is designed to assist with the ability to lift the foot of those patients who have suffered an injury to their central nervous system, enabling them to walk again with much more stability, speed, independence and accuracy. Invented by a team of researchers in Canada at the University of Alberta, the medical functional electrical stimulation (FES) device consists of a battery-operated unit, attached to two electrodes and a single-channel electrical stimulator, worn around the calf just below the knees. The sensor technology sends low level electrical signals directly to a motor nerve below the outside of the knee. Gentle electrical impulses activate the muscles used to raise the
patient’s foot at the appropriate time during the step cycle – giving the patient the ability to walk more normally again. Senior neuro-physiotherapist Debbie Rowarth said: “If you have suffered a stroke, spinal or brain injury or have Multiple Sclerosis or cerebral palsy, walking, a task considered simple by non affected individuals is not easy. “These conditions damage the nervous system. “The introduction of the WalkAide FES system is another step forward in delivering the latest technological advances into the neuro gym, enabling the Trust to give the patients of east Cheshire the first rate rehabilitation unit they rightly deserve.” “Research indicates many people who try Walkaide experience immediate and substantial improvement in their walking ability, which increases their mobility, functionality, and overall independence.” The Walkaide FES system has been financially funded by The Macclesfield Branch of The Multiple Sclerosis Society.
Shock-wave treatment introduced at hospital A NEW treatment introduced at a Stafford hospital is targeting patients suffering painful feet, ankles, elbows, shoulders or hips. The treatment at Rowley Hall works by passing low-energy shock-waves through the skin to initiate an inflammationlike response in the injured tissue. That prompts the body to naturally increase blood circulation, the number of blood vessels and, as a result, the metabolism in the injured tissue, so increasing the body's natural healing process. Called extracorporeal shock-wave 18
ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGIES I FEBRUARY/MARCH 2011
therapy, it is available at the privately-run hospital, which also takes NHS referrals from North Staffordshire. Hospital physiotherapy manager Suzanne Nita said: “The 15 minute sessions are an alternative for patients who have tried all other forms of conventional treatment for their chronic tendon or soft tissue inflammation problems.” Physiotherapists use the device to treat patients referred by orthopaedic surgeons, and already it has worked with conditions such as tennis elbow, achilles tendonitis and calcification of the shoulder tendons.
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NEWS
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Jane Rutterford
Jane becomes first to wear brace device By Dominic Musgrave A WOMAN with muscular paralysis as a result of childhood polio has become the first UK patient to wear a revolutionary, electronically controlled leg brace. Jane Rutterford, a retired mother of two from Essex, is now experiencing a regular walking pattern for the first time due to the device, which has recently become available on the NHS. The E-MAG Active from Otto Bock Healthcare, designed to boost mobility and the quality of life of stroke and polio patients, uses intelligent sensor technology to constantly measure the position of the wearer’s leg while walking, ensuring it locks and unlocks at the right times. It is a lightweight system that works independently of the ankle joint or
sole of the foot. As a result, users with no ankle functionality are able to achieve improved mobility via a more natural, smoother gait pattern when doing everyday tasks. Jane, who is now dealing with postpolio syndrome, said. “Wearing the E-MAG is like having therapy while getting on with your life, offering me support to do the things I love doing such as gardening. “It’s essential for me as a person to be as independent as possible and as it’s so comfortable I can wear it all day every day. It’s become an integral part of my life; the support it gives me is terrific.” In 2009 E-MAG Active received the award for prosthetic or orthotic product innovation from The Limbless Association, and is the first leg support of its kind to promote a natural walking pattern. ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGIES I FEBRUARY/MARCH 2011
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PRODUCT NEWS
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Very positive response to new brace
Dynamic Orthoses – where’s the evidence?
TOWNSEND has released a new brace concept, a dual upright aluminum brace that allows for locking the patient at zero or five degrees.
By Kathryn Fisher MSc MCSP DYNAMIC Elastomeric Fabric Orthoses have been used in the treatment of motor disorders since the 1990s.
The company is the only brace manufacturer which offers this within their range of off-the-shelf brace. This is the perfect option for those patients who suffer from weak extensor muscles, problematic TKR or for limiting or preventing knee flexion. Launched at the beginning of the year, 35 braces have been built and shipped, and the feedback received has been very positive, both in terms of clinician response and patient compliance. There are times when a patient is not a perfect stock size, and if your patient falls between sizes why not try the semi-custom option? Provide three easy measurements, and for no additional cost to the brace you will receive one that fits your patient perfectly first time. Townsend bracing has more than 25 years of clinically proven products experience, designed and manufactured in the USA.
There is still divided opinion as to their effectiveness, but as more and more evidence is published, critics should perhaps rethink their position. In truth, evidence from a number of sources shows that DEFOs can be beneficial for clients who present with: Proximal and /or distal instability. Abnormal tone. Sensory processing difficulties /lack of awareness Hypermobility Prosthetics and Orthotics International gives evidence to suggest that if proximal weakness is addressed using dynamic orthoses the typical
diplegic gait pattern can be reduced providing an opportunity for the re-learning of movement patterns. But why is this? The simple answer is that the dynamic properties allow the patient to realise their full physical potential, through providing proximal stability without providing rigid support.
One of the most exciting developments at DM Orthotics is the Scoliosis Suit. Initially designed to treat neuropathic curve,s it is now being used in early idiopathic scoliosis.
This means muscles are facilitated to be active in better patterns of movement, proprioceptive feedback is enhanced and motor learning can take place.
The scoliosis suit provides a dynamic functional orthosis to direct rather than force correction within the spinal segments. There is no muscle wasting, and full range of movement in the spine is possible. X-ray evidence shows that it has been possible to reduce curves by up to 50 per cent.
DM Orthotics Ltd is one manufacturer of DEFOs. Using his orthotic knowledge and the skills of the team surrounding him, Martin Matthews has developed the Dynamic Movement Orthosis (DMO) into the product we see today.
So while there will always be a need for rigid bracing, and dynamic orthoses are not for everyone, there is a growing body of evidence to support their use in the treatment of motor disorders, providing us with another tool in our box.
Bionicare Knee System – A cost effective, proven, non-invasive treatment for Knee Osteoarthritis Background: The knee joint’s lack of blood, nerve, or lymphatic supply led researchers to hypothesise that an electrical impulse is the body’s mechanism to maintain joint health. Due to the physical changes in the osteoarthritic knee, the endogenous electrical impulse is diminished. BioniCare supplements this weakened signal with a stronger one clinically proven to reduce pain and restore function. How does it work? The patented BioniCare Knee System delivers an imperceptible pulsed electrical signal designed specifically for the treatment of pain, symptoms and
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the overall improvement of the osteoarthritic knee. Indicated specifically for knee osteoarthritis, it is the most thoroughly researched non-drug, non-invasive treatment available. Ideally suited for younger, nonoperative patients or those who simply do not want surgery, BioniCare provides a non-invasive alternative to knee surgery. What evidence is there to support its effectiveness? Five peer-reviewed, scientific studies involving 1,200 patients in 88 clinical settings provide comprehensive and compelling evidence for the BioniCare system,
ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGIES I FEBRUARY/MARCH 2011
with patients showing significant improvement even when severe osteoarthritis is present.
the USA and Canada treating over 50,000 patients, delivering outstanding results.
Results from the studies identified that 62 per cent of patients are less likely to have total knee replacement surgery when treated with BioniCare. 100 per cent of patients showed greater improvement using BioniCare versus placebo groups. Finally, as the hours of BioniCare treatment increases, the efficacy increases and use of NSAID decreases.
What is the BioniCare System? The BioniCare system consists of a small electronic signal generator connected to two electrodes that are placed above and on the knee, these are held in place by comfortable wraps. As treatment is based on the number of hours worn, BioniCare has been designed so that it can be tailored to suit each individual patients requirements. The system can be used in combination with night wraps and or knee braces, off the shelf and custom made.
Even though BioniCare is new to the UK, since receiving FDA clearance in the US in 2003 BioniCare has been used by over 4,000 physicians across
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KLAVENESS RISE TO THE CHALLENGE Prescription footwear is too often a challenge for both the clinician and the wearer. Just stop and think for a moment. Have you ever wondered, “Can we really provide shoes that our patients will actually wear?” Patients may know they need prescription shoes but it doesn’t mean they are always delighted to have them. This is something we can change. You probably already know that Klaveness provide high quality, nice looking shoes but we are willing to bet that you currently believe they won’t fit most of your patients. Actually if that’s the case, it’s time you gave us a call. It’s true - Klaveness have taken a fresh look at footwear provision and raised standards whilst keeping prices firmly competitive. So let’s see what’s changed.
WE CAN PRODUCE PRESCRIPTION SHOES TO MATCH YOUR MOST DEMANDING CASES - and shoes which your patients will be delighted to wear. For more than 50 years Klaveness have combined traditional know-how with the latest technology to fit the foot without compromise. Now, by collaborating with Bolton Bros Ltd of Newcastle (who have been making bespoke footwear since 1893), the result is quite exceptional - simply the leading experience and knowledge to deal with your most challenging cases. • Combine the nicest styles with flexible service • You can have certain styles next day
• Split sizes are free of charge on certain styles • Three widths • Up to 12mm last additions • Complete range of Last and footwear modifications Whether you want to use traditional measures, foot scanning technology or a fitting stock, we can help. As a leading international brand, Klaveness are recognised on the High Street as producing stylish, high quality and comfortable shoes. Of course, prescription footwear is different. To apply advanced design and manufacturing technology to prescription footwear is an exciting challenge. It means using technology to meet individual needs but with the economies of mass production. It offers the prospect that many more persons who require such footwear can enjoy both fashion and function. Klaveness and Bolton Bros. want wearers to be delighted with their shoes and clinicians to realise that they can receive the broadest selection of modification possibilities on the market today. We would like you to know that Bolton Bros now incorporates and harnesses the skills and resources of Munro Bolton Orthotics Call for a Catalogue or more information South of England & Midlands Klaveness UK 0116-2866067 email: klavenessuk@btconnect,com North of England & Scotland Bolton Bros Ltd 0191-2732012 email: info@bolton-bros.co.uk
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Naidex organisers back accessible toilets campaign
PACE to hold free referrer’s clinic visit PACE is hosting a free referrer’s day at its Chesham clinic next month. The event on March 2 will provide professionals who refer patients to the company with an opportunity to have a behind the scenes visit to the facility and see how their clients are supported by the multidisciplinary team.
Patients will also be in attendance to share their experiences.
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restricting for people who need carer aid or special hoists and equipment to find toilets that afford them the comfort, convenience and dignity they deserve.
The Changing Places initiative was launched to make independence and daily living as attainable as possible for the disabled community by supporting people who have toilet accessibility issues.
“Naidex is campaigning to get these Changing Places into all the exhibition centres we work with to ensure maximum comfort for our visitors.”
Naidex, spearheaded by event director Liz Virgo, has joined the campaign to get all major event venues involved with the programme. She has met with representatives from London ExCeL and will also be speaking to the NEC to encourage them to invest the money needed to make their venues even more accessible to disabled visitors.
The clinical team will discuss why particular components are chosen for patient provision, the latest prosthetic and orthotic solutions as well as demonstrating the casting of a patient for a prosthetic socket.
Places are limited, and to register email Scott Richardson at srichardson@pacerehab.com
THE organiser of the UK’s largest disability, rehabilitation and healthcare exhibition is joining the campaign for accessible toilets in all of its exhibition venues.
Liz Virgo
ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGIES I FEBRUARY/MARCH 2011
“The benefit of the scheme is that it allows people to be more flexible about where they go, due to having the appropriate specialist toileting facilities,” Liz added. “It is very
Changing Places toilets are different to standard disabled ones as they have additional features and more space to meet the needs of disabled people and are designed to cater for different levels of disability. For people who can access the toilet independently there are strategically placed grab rails and systems that enable users wash their hands without moving from the toilet. The scheme also caters for those who have more profound disabilities and may require the support of up to two carers at a time with equipment including tracked hoists and changing beds.
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Disability North at new venue Actor David Proud with the category winners of last year’s Ready Willing and Mobile competition.
Actor joins judging panel ACTOR David Proud has joined the judging panel for the annual Ready Willing and Mobile competition which has its awards ceremony at the Mobility Roadshow.
“Some of the ideas have been extremely simple, but ingenious and have the potential to be lifechanging for disabled people such as myself.”
Best known for his roles in Desperados and EastEnders, he presented the prizes at last year’s event. He said: “Having met previous winners I have been amazed at the creative thoughtfulness of young people today.
The competition is open to all young people aged between seven and 16. This year’s theme is ‘outdoors’ and the organisers are calling for bright ideas to help people with disabilities gain easy access to and maximum enjoyment from
woodlands and forests. The show returns to the East of England Showground from June 30 to July 2. Several new elements are planned including an expanded sports arena with new attractions, and a special focus on outdoor living – not only accessible caravans, motorhomes and equipment, but lightweight portable bikes and scooters that can be carried on board.
THE annual Disability North exhibition will take place at the new venue of Newcastle racecourse on September 21 and 22. Supported by Hilton Newcastle Gateshead, the event provides information, equipment and advice for disabled people, older adults, carers and health and social care professionals.
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There is something for everyone at this year’s event including independent living equipment, adaptations and leisure facilities. Doors are open from 10am. Admission and car parking is free, and a free shuttle bus is also available from various locations.
Society conference THE Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists’ annual conference returns to Harrogate’s International Conference Centre this year. The event will take place from November 24-26. Deadline for oral presentations is April 30, and for poster presentations August 31.
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PODIATRY
sponsors podiatry
High heels bring health problems
All parties must respond to challenge of reducing diabetic amputations
HIGH heels should not be worn daily as regular use could cause health issues, it has been claimed.
By Greg Quinn
This comes after research by Saga revealed that 72 per cent of women over the age of 50 still wear high heels, with 42 per cent of those under 70 still doing so frequently. However, few older women wear extremely high heels, with the court shoe proving popular with 73 per cent and kitten heels worn by 30 per cent. Lorraine Jones, of the Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists, said high heels alter the posture and puts pressure on back and knee joints. She added: “The height of the shoe elevates the leg, which shortens your calf muscles and also means that the front of your foot is pushed into the front of your shoe, which can rub and exacerbate bunions if you already have a genetic predisposition to them.”
IN 1989 the WHO and International Diabetes Federation published the St. Vincent’s Declaration that set a European wide target of a 50 per cent reduction in amputation rates for diabetes patients. To be successful this task required the concerted efforts of all participating governments to facilitate the identification of patients who were ‘at-risk’ and appropriately resource health care workers to deliver on improvements. In the UK a recently published NHS Atlas of Variation has identified significant geographical differences in the level of care available to patients with diabetes. This so-called ‘postcode lottery’ has created some understandable attention from many sections of the press and patient groups. The potential for large numbers of avoidable diabetic amputations to continue is obviously worrying for professional groups too; especially since such ‘at risk’ patients are generally assigned a priority status within most NHS services. The NHS is under pressure to
Greg Quinn
respond to both growing demand and tighter control of available funds. However, not to respond to the challenge of improving care to such a vulnerable group while ensuring a more equitable access to treatment would seem like failure. To achieve our ambition, all parties who are stakeholders in this challenge need to find more creative ways to deliver what is
required and learn lessons from more successful services. As Barbara Young, chief executive of Diabetes UK has stated: “95 per cent of diabetes management is self-management.” How we collectively respond we must ensure that such patients take centre stage in the process. Greg is a podiatric surgeon and managing director at Talar Made.
Our new-look features sections gives you the opportunity to advertise your business on a page designated to your own specific field:
Podiatry, Sports Rehab and Children To find out more ring Christine Daly-Sadler on 01226 734412 24
ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGIES I FEBRUARY/MARCH 2011
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Podiatrist considers benefits of fish oil medication By Dominic Musgrave A SOUTHAMPTON podiatrist is leading research into whether regular doses of medication derived from fish oil could be used to improve nerve damage and prevent diabetes complications such as amputation, blindness or heart disease. The 18-month study being led by Keith McCormick will study 100 people at risk of developing type two diabetes to determine whether a medication called OMACOR can improve the function of nerves and small blood vessels in the feet. OMACOR is derived from fish oil found in Norwegian sardines. He said: “OMACOR has already
proved to be extremely successful in the treatment of high triglycerides (a type of fat) in the blood. “If this trial is successful it will provide evidence that treatment with these purified long chain fatty acids can also serve to improve small nerve and blood vessel function that is very relevant to people at risk of type two diabetes. “It is hoped this knowledge could then help to improve the lives of people with diabetes who are at risk of nerve and blood vessel damage.” The £197,000 research study is being funded by Diabetes UK, whose director of research Dr Iain Frame said up to 100 amputations
Osteoarthritis of knee sufferers recruited for £1.8m clinical trial PEOPLE in Manchester with painful osteoarthritis of the knee are being recruited onto a major £1.8m clinical trial which aims to find more effective ways of treating the condition. Around six million people in the UK suffer from osteoarthritis of the knee, but treatment is limited to painkillers, exercise or a knee replacement. A team at the Universities of Manchester and Salford led by world-renowned osteoarthritis expert Professor David Felson from Boston, is running a series of clinical trials testing different treatments. The trials are being funded by Arthritis Research UK over five years and involve 300 local people. The team is testing the effectiveness of three treatments: knee braces, special shoes and inserts, and steroid injections. Retired teacher Trevor Gamson, who has suffered from knee osteoarthritis for many years, took part in the trial testing if certain types of shoes and inserts can reduce pain, and by
improving gait and posture, reduce pressure on the knee. The 77-year-old, who has worn a wedge insert in his left shoe for a number of years, said: “I have very little cartilage left on the inside of my knee and was all set to have the knee replaced because of the awful pain. “But after being sent to the gait clinic at Salford University when I had the insert fitted into my shoe, life has been much more bearable. “The idea of the insert is to move the weight-bearing load away from the kneecap, to the right, so the load goes down the left side and reduces the pressure.” Dr Rich Jones, principal investigator of the trial, said: “Mr Gamson has found enormous benefits from his shoe insert, which is provided by the NHS separate to this trial. “But we need to find out if it can help other people too, and which works best. Osteoarthritis of the knee is a huge problem and our approach could make a huge difference to millions of people.”
are carried out weekly in the UK because of nerve damage arising from the disease.
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“We know that neuropathy and blood vessel damage are behind many of the complications of diabetes,” he added. “Type two diabetes can go undetected for up to 10 years, meaning 50 per cent of people already have complications, such as neuropathy, kidney disease, cardiovascular disease and stroke, by the time they’re diagnosed. “The research being funded at the University of Southampton therefore has the potential to identify a readily available treatment to prevent some of the serious complications of diabetes and protect those at risk.”
New clinic aims to be recognised A NEW clinic opened in the west of Ireland aims to become an internationally recognised centre for podiatry care, education and research. The clinic, located in the grounds of Merlin Park University Hospital in Galway, is the only one of its kind in Ireland and will offer podiatry services as well as providing clinical placements for students studying the BSc programme in podiatry at NUI Galway, the only podiatry degree course in the country. David Watterson, manager of the podiatry clinic, said: “In addition to treating clients, we are training student podiatrists to assess, diagnose and treat diseases and abnormalities of the lower limb and foot in order to cure or prevent recurrence of the person’s foot problems. “Podiatry care can make a big difference to people’s mobility and therefore to their quality of life – not just for older people but for those with illnesses such as diabetes, and following sports injuries and surgery.” Ireland currently has a low level of trained podiatrists and the hope is that the graduates will find employment within HSE services. ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGIES I FEBRUARY/MARCH 2011
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KIDS
sponsors kids
Exhibition returns to the Ricoh
Paralympic hopeful Danielle makes amputation decision
THE annual Kidz in the Middle exhibition returns to the Ricoh Arena in Coventry on Thursday, March 10. The event for carers and professionals also features a variety of free seminars, with subjects covered including ‘Children and the use of bed rails – reducing risks in the sleeping environment’ and ‘Sleep problems with children with special needs’. As well as the activity area featuring wheelchair games, dance and road safety, organiser Disabled Living is also holding a half-day conference entitled ‘Best practice and essential techniques in moving and handling children’. Hosted by chartered physiotherapist Elizabeth Hallows, the three-hour session costs £60 plus VAT and includes refreshments. An exhibition will run alongside the seminars and conference.
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Danielle Bradshaw visits the Olympic stadium
ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGIES I FEBRUARY/MARCH 2011
A YOUNGSTER has decided to have her right lower leg amputated to allow her to follow her Paralympics dream. 11-year-old Danielle Bradshaw from Newton, Manchester, was born six weeks’ premature with developmental dysplasia of both hips and congenital abnormality of her right knee, and has never been able to play sport. Her mother Debbie Quigley said she was inspired by British amputee soldiers playing sports using prosthetic limbs and the South African Oscar Pistorius. “This was Danielle’s decision and all I could do was support her 100 per cent throughout the life changing operation, offering her love and support,” she added. “She suggested it to the doctors. They could have done reconstructive surgery, but she’s had operation after operation and said: ‘What’s the point of dragging something
around that doesn’t work?’” Debbie added that her daughter now aims to become Great Britain’s fastest disabled sprinter, and aims to represent her country at the 2016 Paralympics. Her operation was successfully carried out by surgeon Stan Jones at The Children’s Hospital in Sheffield, and she has been fitted with a Compex electrostimulation system. Sports physiotherapist and clinical product specialist at DJO UK, Cliff Eaton, said: “To help Danielle achieve her goal we provided her with a Compex Mi Fitness. “She will be using the Compex to maintain the muscle volume of her thighs which is necessary to ensure a good fit for her prosthesis. We have also shown her how to work her Glutes and hip flexors using the Compex to achieve the strength and power she will need as a sprinter.”
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Ball blanket helping children with AHD By Dominic Musgrave A PIONEERING ball blanket available in the UK is helping children with attention deficit hyperactive disorder fall to sleep faster and more soundly, according to a recent international study.
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To combat this growing issue, Kingkraft, specialists in solutions for disabled adults and children, is offering the Protac Ball Blanket to children with ADHD to help them fall to sleep quicker and more peacefully at night. The blanket contains silent plastic balls, and it is the pressure of these balls on a child’s skin that stimulates a sense of calm and feeling of safety. Lisa McSprit, a sensory integration occupational therapist, said she has seen real benefits from the technology. She added: “I have taken the blankets into special schools and witnessed first hand improvements in calming with children of various ages who have sensory difficulties.” “It really enhances the work I do and in a short time has a dramatic effect on children’s lives, as well as the lives of their whole family. “The blanket offers extra input to a child’s sensory system and helps them to feel calmer and happier, as well as having a knock on effect on their sleep patterns, emotions, behaviour and concentration levels.”
Lisa McSprit, a sensory integration occupational therapist, and Sue King from Kingcraft.
The research into the blanket was carried out by the University of Southern Denmark, and was published in the international ‘Nordic Journal of Psychiatry’. The study found that when children slept with the Protac Ball Blanket, the time taken to fall asleep was reduced by almost 40 per cent – with the children only taking 15 minutes on average to drop off. It also showed that a child’s
tendency to wake up during the night was reduced to match the level of children who did not have ADHD. The behaviour of children at school was also studied, revealing those who had slept with the blanket were able to concentrate better and were able to cope more with school activities; with a 10 per cent improvement in both hyperactivity and concentration levels.
Tim succeeds in motocross world A TEENAGER is taking the motocross world by storm despite wearing a prosthetic leg. Tim Burrows is currently one of the top five British amateur riders in the Masters Motocross Series, and his right knee disarticulation prosthesis includes the new KX06 from Endolite, which solves the breakage problems he was having with other knees he tried when training to get back into the sport competitively. Tim Burrows training
The limb is an extreme version of the polycentric
design that revolutionised the look and feel of high activity prosthetics. The pivots and bearings, which have been heavily tested by athletes, sports aficionados and military personnel since the initial launch a few years ago, are now upgraded for extra strength and water. The only special additions Tim has added include a magnet to maintain his prosthetic foot safely on the foot peg. He also uses a hand controlled brake for immediate response rather than a foot one. ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGIES I FEBRUARY/MARCH 2011
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SPORTS REHABILITATION
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sponsors sports rehab
New Cardiff centre New initiative is ‘world-beating’ piloted in THE first sport and exercise medicine centre in the UK to assist not just elite athletes but also the general public has officially opened at the University of Wales Institute in Cardiff. The new facility, which is an extension of the National Indoor Athletics Centre (NIAC), will support postgraduate medical education, sport and exercise medicine research and a range Gary Speed watches the echocardiography demonstration with researchers showing how they use sound waves to create of clinical services. pictures of the heart to identify potential problems. New Wales football manager Gary Speed the south west of England will allow attended the ceremony and took a us to develop a preeminent research tour of the site, which includes centre for sport and exercise services for ultrasound, sports and medicine which will benefit not just clinical biomechanics, the elite athletes but the general echocardiography, rehabilitation and public.” physiotherapy. Special guest at the event was the Dr John Fairclough, professor of First Minister of Wales, Right sports medicine at UWIC and Honourable Carwyn Jones AM, who orthopaedic surgeon at University officially opened the centre. Hospital Llandough, said: “The He said: “What I have seen is a importance of the centre to UWIC, centre that we can be proud of. This Cardiff and Wales is that it has facility is world beating. The Institute enabled us to pull together the here has a fantastic history and existing experts to produce a centre heritage of sport, and now in sport of excellence which is different to and exercise medicine. We can be anywhere within the UK. rightly proud of the fact that we “We are fortunate that through the have a world class facility here in investment and forward thinking of Wales. It will be used by sports men Professor Chapman, UWIC viceand women all around the world.” chancellor and board of governors Sport and exercise medicine that the unit has developed in provision at the university has collaboration with our partners in developed rapidly over the past the sporting world and the National decade. The MSc Sport and Exercise Health Service. In addition, our links Medicine programme is now the with fellow universities in Wales and largest taught of its kind in the UK.
ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGIES I FEBRUARY/MARCH 2011
Yorkshire THE Fitness Industry Association, Leonard Cheshire Disability and Sport England have joined forces to launch a new initiative to help people with disabilities take up and enjoy physical activity. Piloting in Yorkshire, Yoodo Sports will bring disabled people together with activity ‘buddies’ – people who may or may not have an impairment themselves but want to help others play sport or be active. Figures have shown that only one in 15 disabled people in the county regularly play sport, compared with one in five non-disabled people. FIA executive director David Stalker said members are supporting the campaign by offering discounted and/or trial memberships for people with disabilities and those with a long term health condition. He added: “If you have a disability, you’re three times less likely to engage in sport and physical activity than if you don’t. “It’s essential that we make physical activity accessible to everyone – regardless of age, sex or ability – that’s why we’re so pleased that our members have come forward to support the campaign. We hope it will roll out nationally in the future.” The pilot in Yorkshire will run in Leeds, Bradford, Richmond, Catterick, Kirklees, Huddersfield, Northallerton and Thirsk, with plans for it to be rolled out across England next year. Jane Jutsum, Leonard Cheshire
David Stalker
Disability innovative projects director, added: “People with disabilities often face the serious challenges of changing people’s perceptions of who they are and what they can do. “Yoodo Sports challenges those stereotypes and enables people who want to get started to match with an activity buddy or group who will help them have fun, and discover the motivation to participate in regular exercise. ‘The initiative is open to all adults with a disability or long term health condition and we would also like to recruit volunteers to become a buddy.” Last year the charity surveyed over 1,100 people, both disabled and non-disabled, for its Barriers to Sports Participation survey, which revealed views like: I need someone to keep me company and motivated.
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DJO UK create clinical product specialist role Keith Bell receives a special long service award from Angela Rippon at the recent BHTA awards ceremony.
Sales executive Keith retires after 25 years’ service ONE of a company’s most senior prosthetic sales executives has retired after 25 years’ service. Joining Ortho Europe’s Richmond office in August 1986 from the pharmaceutical industry, Keith Bell quickly became instrumental in the launch of a wide range of products, including the industry renowned Quantum Foot. His success and involvement in delivering the campaign can still be seen, with the Quantum Foot continuing to be used extensively across the world more than two decades later. Working his way up through the
ranks to the position of sales director, Keith moved his base to Ortho Europe’s Alton location, where he has remained. CEO Michael O’Byrne said: “Keith has played a significant role in the development of our business. He has provided valuable support to prosthetic centres across the country and distributors throughout the world and will be greatly missed by the entire prosthetics industry. “He is known across the industry as a gentleman, and as someone who cares deeply about the effect the products he sells have on the patient.”
Additional support for dementia residents
SPORTS physiotherapist Cliff Eaton (pictured above) has been appointed to a newly created role as a clinical product specialist by DJO UK. He has specialised in sports injury treatment and rehabilitation for the past 15 years, and has worked with several leading cricket, football and rugby teams. While Cliff was head physiotherapist for Northampton Saints he was also responsible for developing its new medical department, which was acknowledged as setting the ‘gold standard’ in meeting the
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Premiership’s criteria for medical support facilities. DJO’s UK general manager Phil Neal said: “Cliff has been a customer of ours for many years, and is familiar with both our Compex electro-stimulation system and Chattanooga (the rehabilitation equipment manufacturers). “While using his own relevant experience to raise awareness of both brands, Cliff will concentrate on demonstrating the benefits of electro-stimulation to elite sports teams and medical professionals.”
Mobility firm appoints Chris CHRIS Sloss has been appointed new products design engineer by national mobility specialist Autochair. Working closely with the engineering team at the Derbyshire based firm, he will be responsible for developing procedures and processes for efficient manufacture and assembly of the final products. Managing director Matthew Walker said: “Having used 3D CAD for design for the last 10 years, Chris’
knowledge will be invaluable as Autochair has recently introduced 3D CAD to help visualise designs and reduce design and draughting time, saving our customers both time and money. “This year we hope to continue to evolve, and are confident this investment in both new design technology and skills will deliver the service levels required to uphold our commitment to excellent customer care.”
Curriculum Leader PSHCE and Citizenship position: Urban Learning are looking for a creative and talented individual with excellent managerial skills who can be fully prepared for all the requirements of statutory PSHCE/Citizenship in a lovely school.
RESIDENTS with dementia in South Staffordshire Housing Association’s supported living schemes are to receive additional support from a local care provider thanks to the appointment of two community mental health specialists.
Care Plus head Jo Grainger said: “South Staffordshire is a region which has the fastest growing elderly population in the UK, and the appointment of both Pat and Carol is a significant and essential boost.
The School:
Community mental health nurse Pat Leahy and support worker Carol Robotham have joined the team at Care Plus, which was launched in June, thanks to the successful application for a grant from the county council as part of its Supporting People Innovation Scheme (SPINS).
“The funding is crucial to us to continue our programme of help and support to not only residents who want to live independently and have a good quality of life but, also provides peace of mind to families knowing that their loved ones are being cared for by specialist carers.”
The Successful Candidate:
Forward looking with satisfactory/good student progress Strong ethos of team support Significant opportunities for professional development Multicultural and socially inclusive
The Students: Behave well Have a positive attitude Do well in their work See their school as a community Be a highly effective, innovative, classroom practitioner in PSHCE/Citizenship Have a good knowledge and understanding of a variety of accreditation opportunities including GCSE, BTEC levels 1 & 2 certificates and ASDAN Have the ability and proven track record in raising standards Have a vision for the further development of the subject across the school The school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young people and expects all staff to share this commitment. If you have all the necessary paperwork, up to date crb and checkable references, I would like to hear from you. Enquiries: Telephone 0208 506 5700, email susan@urbanlearning.co.uk or visit www.urbanlearning.co.uk
ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGIES I FEBRUARY/MARCH 2011
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PRODUCTS
REED MEDICAL ADDS DIABETIC/HEALTHY SOCKS TO RANGE AS a major orthopaedic footwear manufacturer, Reed understands the importance of supporting the feet during daily activity. We are also aware of the importance of socks for support and prevention of injury, particularly to the diabetic foot. Reed Medical now offer specially designed diabetic/healthy socks which provide: An even fit which is not susceptible to creasing. No elastic cuff which can hinder blood circulation in the calf. A smooth closure by hand linked toes. Sizes 35 to 46 available in a range of colours. Socks manufactured using a combination of materials: cotton, amicor (cotton/acrylic), silver fibre and wool ensure comfortable fit while helping to limit foot problems. Enquiries: Telephone 01254 503333, email: info@reedmedical.co.uk or visit www.reedmedical.co.uk
BIONICARE KNEE SYSTEM BIONICARE is a revolutionary non-invasive treatment for uni, bi and tri-compartmental knee osteoarthritis. Ideally suited for younger, non-operative patients or those who simply do not want surgery, BioniCare provides a costeffective alternative to knee surgery. Consisting of either a night wrap and / or knee brace, an electronic impulse device and advanced technology electrodes, BioniCare is simple to use, imperceptible and brings back a patient’s quality of life, getting them back to the activities they enjoy. Significantly cost-effective compared to total knee replacement surgery, without the risks and potential side effects associated with surgery and other treatments. BioniCare has already been used on more than 50,000 US patients with outstanding results, backed by five scientific studies. Enquiries: For further information and a product demonstration, contact Gilbert and Mellish on 0121 475 1101 or email marketing@gilbert-mellish.co.uk
LIGHTWEIGHT PROTECTIVE HELMETS FROM M G MILLIGAN Scrum Type Helmet Sizes S M L Available in black with rear lace adjustment Firm sponge covered with Lycra/nylon Fastens with Velcro chin strap £39.05 + VAT Small: up to 56cm Medium: 56cm-58.5cm Large: 58.5cm and above Toppen 77 Sizes 46cm – 59cm Available in blue with red lining Constructed from soft sponge covered with Lycra/nylon Open sections on top of head for increased comfort Fastens with under chin strap £72.50+ VAT These helmets are not suitable for high risk activities, e.g. skateboard/cycling Enquiries: Telephone 0161 747 8728, Fax 0161 747 7163 or Email mggilligan@hotmail.com
NEW NIMCO CHILDREN’S SHOES FROM DENOVO DENOVO Healthcare has introduced its new Nimco Children’s Footwear catalogue which includes 10 new styles and many new colour variations to the existing range. It now offers the customer a total choice of 25 custom made styles which are all reliably available in 12 working days with the highest level of customisation. All boot styles are available in sizes 18-45 with a choice of lace or Velcro fastening, different colours, four different stiffener types and various sole types. In addition to the boot range DeNovo is proud to show the extended choice of Nimco children’s shoes available, including trainer type styles and ‘school’ colours including patent. The range can be further extended by Nimco making fully bespoke shoes to individual customers needs. Enquiries: Telephone 01934 808416, fax 01934 443311 / 01934 808405, email sales@denovohealthcare.com or visit www.denovohealthcare.com
INTRODUCING THE BREMEN SHOE THE Bremen shoe is one of the most popular shoe in the Fior and Gentz range. The Bremen shoe is rigid, extra strong rocker bottom sole with a last pitch, 30 mm thick. Due to the rigid sole the natural rolling of the foot is changed. The flexation of the heads of the metatarsal bones is suppressed. Because of this the foot is immobilised what results in relieving an existing wound, which can heal up in a better way. The shoe comes in a number of sizes, ranging from XXS-XXL. It can be worn on both the left and right side and is fully machine washable. For the first 20 replies to this advert we will send out a free sample of the Bremen shoe. To take advantage of this offer or for further information contact 0114 2584639, email sales@head2toeorthotics.co.uk or visit www.head2toeorthotics.co.uk
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ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGIES I FEB/MARCH 2011
If you would like to gain exposure for your product please contact: Christine Daly-Sadler on 01226 734412
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