INNOVATION FOR INDEPENDENCE
ISSUE 128 AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2019 £6.95
Research partnership could help phantom limb pain treatment AMPUTEES who suffer from phantom limb pain could have their suffering eased thanks to a new device being pioneered by researchers at Teesside University. Researchers at the University are working with start-up Teesside healthcare innovation company 2PD Ltd, to develop and launch a sensory discrimination training device which can be self-administered by patients to help overcome the condition. Phantom limb pain is where people who have undergone amputation experience sensations that seem to be coming from the amputated limb. One treatment for phantom limb pain is sensory discrimination training whereby patients receive stimuli to various parts of their body from electrodes and have to discriminate where the sensations are coming from. This has been shown to help the brain rewire its mental map, or blueprint, of the amputated limb, which is associated with a reduction in the phantom pain. However, it can be a lengthy and costly process involving several sessions administered by medical or rehabilitation professionals. Working directly with the company directors and key management personal, researchers at Teesside University have entered into a Knowledge Transfer Partnership to bring a device to market which automates the
process, meaning that a patient can selfadminister the training. KTPs typically last for two to three years and are a collaboration between a University and a company. They are part-funded by Innovate UK to help businesses embed innovations and improve productivity through the better use of knowledge, technology and skills being generated in UK universities. Over the course of the KTP, the Teesside University team and inventors Professor Denis Martin and Dr Cormac Ryan will carry out clinical evaluations and trials on the patent applied for device, before ultimately launching a device that is ready to be used on the open market. A KTP Associate, Sarah Oatway, a Teesside University BSc (Hons) Physiotherapy graduate, has also been appointed to assist with the research. Dr Ryan said: “Sensory discrimination training can be very effective at realigning the brain’s blueprint of the body. “However, the amount of clinical time that it takes up makes it a huge barrier to treatment. “By developing something that can be selfadministered we can make it a much more feasible proposition. At the end of the KTP we will have developed a product that has the potential to make a real impact on the quality of life for people who have undergone amputation surgery.”
Two Brighton-based designers have won a prestigious award for their invention designed to transform the lives of people living with disabilities. Friends and product designers Eli Heath, 24 and Pete Barr, 24 from Brighton and London respectively have been recognised with a Blackwood Design Award for creating the Enayball – a product that helps highly paralysed people create art. The Enayball is a device that attaches to wheelchairs and paints on the floor in front of you as you move. Brought to life when the pair were studying at Brighton University in 2015, the Enayball has now been recognised by leading care provider Blackwood for the way in which it allows people in wheelchairs to independently express themselves creatively.
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Virtual rehab: how ‘gamification’ can help stroke recovery RESEARCHERS at the University of East Anglia are pioneering virtual reality rehabilitation for stroke survivors using low cost videogame technology.
reducing the number of apples on screen.” As well as aiding diagnosis, the new game aims to improve rehabilitation by including elements such as scoring and rewards to engage the patient and improve adherence to their treatment.
They have worked with industry collaborator Evolv to create a new gaming platform to improve the lives of stroke patients suffering from complex neurological syndromes caused by their stroke.
David added: “Traditional rehabilitation treatment is quite monotonous and boring, so this gamification aspect is really important to help people stick with their treatment.
The new technology, which has been funded by the National Institute for Health Research, was unveiled at RehabWeek in Toronto recently.
“This product is a direct consequence of us working with researchers like Dr Rossit who made us more aware of the need to provide a better form of therapy to people suffering from this debilitating syndrome.
There are 1.2 million stroke survivors in the UK and around 30-50 per cent of them suffer a debilitating disorder called ‘hemispatial neglect’. The condition leaves people unaware of things located on one side of their body and greatly reduces their ability to live independently. Lead researcher Dr Stephanie Rossit, from UEA’s school of Psychology, said: “A stroke can damage the brain, so that it no longer receives information about the space around one side of the world. “If this happens, people may not be aware of anything on one side, usually the same side they also lost their movement. This is called hemispatial neglect. “These people tend to have very poor recovery and are left with long-term disability. Patients with this condition tell us that it is terrifying. They bump into things, they’re scared to use a wheelchair, so it really is very severe and life-changing.” Current rehabilitation treatments involve different types of visual and physical coordination tasks (visuomotor) and cognitive exercises – many of which are ‘paper and pen’ based. The new non-immersive VR technology showcased updated these paper and pen tasks for the digital
age – using videogame technology instead. Stephanie added: “We know that adherence is key to recovery – so we wanted to create something that makes it fun to stick to a rehabilitation task.” In one such game, the patient sees a random series of apples, some complete and some with a piece bitten off. The apples vibrate and move to provide greater stimulation to the patient. David Fried, CEO of Evolv, said: “The aim for the patient is to choose the maximum number of complete apples that they see in the quickest time possible. “A person with visual neglect would quite often only see a small number of correct targets to the right-hand side of the screen. Therapists can control the complexity of the game by increasing or
“Our goal is to use technology to make rehabilitation fun and engaging and we have applied this to our Spatial Neglect therapy solution. The great thing about it is that it can be used not only in clinics but also in patients’ homes, thereby giving them access to personalised rehabilitation without leaving their living room.” The team has previously worked with stroke survivors, carers and clinicians to assess the feasibility, usability and acceptability of new gaming technology. Stephanie concluded: “This technology has the potential to improve both independence and quality of life of stroke survivors. We also anticipate other benefits such as improved cost-effectiveness of stroke rehabilitation for the NHS. “This innovative therapy could also improve longterm care after stroke by providing a low-cost enjoyable therapy that can be self-administered anywhere and anytime, without the need for a therapist to be present on every occasion.”
Revolutionary SAFOs help London para-throwers with Tokyo training TWO para-throwers with their eyes firmly set on representing GB at the Tokyo Paralympics next year are being helped along the way by Dorset Orthopaedic’s revolutionary silicone ankle foot orthosis.
a second SAFO for her left foot after feeling significant improvements in her right foot since getting her first brace.
Limited in her movement thanks to EhlersDanlos Syndrome and Dystonia — a neurological movement disorder which causes her muscles to contract and forces her feet to turn inwards — Nessa has found wearing the SAFO has been crucial for her training and prevention of injuries.
Michael Nicholls, known as Taz, and Nessa Wallace, throw discus and shot put respectively and require their SAFOs for different reasons. Taz, 31, from Barnet, wears his SAFO after the nerve which lifts the foot when walking was badly damaged during surgery to repair a broken leg. The former footballer had fractured his tibia and fibula in a pre-season friendly in 2013. Coming to terms with never playing football again was tough but after encouragement to try something different he got in touch with Alison O’Riordan, a para throws specialist coach, and discovered a new passion for throwing. Now a classified F44 athlete, Taz’s personal best in the discus is 48.70m. He got his SAFO thanks to a donation from the Matt Hampson Foundation, and said the difference it’s made has been incredible. 2
ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGIES I AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2019
“I had a rigid throwing brace initially but I found myself relying on it too much and the top of my leg was getting lazy,” Taz added. “With the SAFO it gives me the support I need but engages the rest of my leg so I am fitter, more functional and able to get more propulsion. “While I don’t compete with it, it’s the perfect training aid for me — as when I am back in my rigid brace for competition I will be much stronger overall and I’ll be able to get better results.” Nessa, 41, from Haringey, is planning on getting
“It’s really early days for me as I know it will take a long time for my feet to co-operate but I am noticing the difference wearing the SAFO makes,” she added. “When I stand, I stand on the very outer edges of my feet but with the SAFO I can place more of my foot on the floor which makes things much more comfortable, and far better for my whole body really.” SAFOs can be individually modelled to suit the needs of the wearer, with extra reinforcement wherever it’s required as well as personalised touches such as colours and patterns to cartoons and team emblems.
THE Royal College of Occupational Therapists has launched a new guide, ‘Adaptations without delay’ which will help speed up the process of delivering adaptations to people’s homes. Adaptations play a crucial role in prevention and improving health and wellbeing for older and disabled adults and children and in consequence the sooner they are installed the greater the benefit. Julia Skelton, director of professional operations at the Royal College of Occupational Therapists, said: “Adaptations play a crucial role in prevention and need to be delivered in a timely manner.
is based on the complexity of the situation rather than the type and cost. The guide should assist all those involved in delivering adaptations to ensure a proportionate response that makes the best use of the skill mix within the workforce for timely delivery.” The overall aim of the guide is to reduce delays in delivery of adaptations and does so by providing tools that support a proportionate response. The guide contains a decision-making framework that outlines new ways of working that includes the different levels of complexity of a situation and the most appropriate response.
“It’s clear that a radically different approach to addressing the delays in the assessment and delivery of adaptations is required.
It also helps stakeholders identify the circumstances when an assessment is not required by an occupational therapist.
“Occupational therapists have a crucial role to play in adaptations – taking a collaborative approach to assessment, design, and delivery that
It is intended to be used by practitioners and organisations across the UK who may be contacted by disabled and older people and their
families who are seeking advice or support with home adaptations. It will also assist social care and housing managers as to how adaptations can best be provided locally. The Housing Lin was commissioned to produce this guide that has been developed with a steering group of experts following consultation across the UK. The guide has been endorsed by a number of expert bodies from across the UK, including the Chartered Institute of Housing, Foundations, Care and Repair in England and Wales, the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations, and Northern Ireland Federation of Housing Associations. Rather than providing a fixed range of minor adaptations, this guide will help housing providers consider how to provide a wider range of adaptations to their tenants without the direct involvement of an occupational therapist.
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‘Adaptations without delay’ guide launched
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ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGIES I AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2019
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NEWS Figure 4. Averaged Peak Pressure Map of a subject with Teno-Suspension on left and standard brace an right.
Graph 3 Center of Pressure index showing a more lateral load with the teno-suspension device.
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Graph 1. Medial force graph of same subject with tena-suspension brace in green and standard brace in red.
Figure 5. The teno-suspension device an the left has a more lateral center of pressure trace compared to the standard brace on the right.
Graph 2. Average medial impulse of all subjects with teno-suspension brace in green and standard brace in red
Graph 4. Peak pressure of areas with significant differences. Teno-suspension device is in green and standard brace is in red.
POSTERIOR Tibial Tendon Dysfunction (PTTD) affects three per cent of women over 40 in the UK and up to 10 per cent of obese middle-aged women.
midfoot and attaches above the medial ankle to offload the medial column as a teno-suspension device.
Early stage symptoms of this painful and debilitating condition can be effectively treated with braces and orthotics1.
The strap mimics the position and function of the posterior tibial tendon to lift the arch and support the natural biomechanics of the foot2.
The BioSkin™ TriLok® ankle brace uses an innovative non-elastic strap that wraps around the
In a poster presented by Roy Lidtke, DPM, at the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA)
ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGIES I AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2019
meeting in 2010, this brace was shown to significantly decrease the medial load across the foot, shifting it away from the hallux and medial arch and toward the lateral forefoot. The author also compared the TriLok® to a standard, rigid, hinged brace with an orthotic footbed and found the TriLok® was more effective at shifting the center of pressure than the hinged brace.3
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Custom Spiral AFO’s from Thuasne now available
To find out more about the SpryStep Vector Custom Spiral AFO please contact: Thuasne UK E: marketing@thuasne.co.uk T: 01892 578277 W: www.thuasne.co.uk Social: watch our 3D video by searching “Action Reliever” on YouTube 6
ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGIES I AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2019
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University develops brace to help alumnus cycle again A CYCLIST who lost the movement of his arm after being in a head-on collision with a car has been helped to ride again thanks to his former university.
there – two of which were in an induced coma – and has undergone 10 operations. Richard also spent three days on a ventilator after developing pneumonia.
Richard Kershaw, 42, has been given a bespoke cycling brace which lets him hold the handlebars and adjust his arm position while riding after working with Nottingham Trent University student Olivia Killeya.
Two weeks after coming out of hospital he rode a Wattbike in his friend’s garage, and nine months later rode at the velodrome in Derby on a normal road bike.
Previous braces had only allowed Richard to adjust his position when static on his bike, meaning he had to stop in order to change arm position.
“The hospital staff have been amazing. I owe my life to the air ambulance. I want to do a charity ride for them,” added Richard.
But the new design – named the Ø-Brace after Richard’s cycling club, ØVB, in West Bridgford, Nottinghamshire – can be adjusted in increments while he cycles along. The brace allows Richard to hold the handle bars steady with his injured arm and adjust it with his other hand, allowing him to change body position so he can become more aerodynamic when required. A spring slider gear mechanism allows the brace to be adjusted by 10 degrees at a time. Made from acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, a lightweight and tough plastic, the brace is also lined with neoprene foam for comfortable padding and grip. Richard, who graduated from NTU with an MSc in Geotechnical Engineering in 2007, said: “The new brace is great.
“I owe my life to Sally and John, who are both medically trained and saved me by the side of the road before the air ambulance arrived. They’re both now my friends. Richard Kershaw with his bespoke cycling brace.
“From the first moment I tried it on, it was really comfortable to wear which is a big improvement. “Having something made specifically for me makes a big difference, great to work with NTU again too. I can’t wait to use it out on the road.” Richard lost the movement of his right arm when nerves were disconnected from his spine in the collision.
Over time and through physiotherapy, his brain will learn that the relocated nerve now controls the bicep and will be able to move it independently, without the need to breathe at the same time. The collision happened in 2017 in the Vale of Belvoir when he was riding in a group.
To regain some of that movement, surgeons performed a pioneering operation to rewire nerves from the intercostal muscles to his bicep.
Three of his friends were injured, though Richard suffered the most injuries, comprising of multiple broken vertebrae, a teared liver, a head injury and more.
When Richard breathes in, he can make his bicep contract.
He was taken to hospital by air ambulance and spent seven weeks
“My arm will never be the same, but if I get some movement again, it would be nice to shake hands using my right rather than my left.” BSc Product Design student Olivia, concluded: “What Richard has been through amazes me. His recovery is inspiring. I’ve loved working on this project. “The key thing was to design something which Richard can adjust while cycling. There’s not a lot of products available for people with upper body injuries. “User-centred design is an area I’ve always wanted to get into. I am proud to have helped.”
Hands-on experience at Kiltwalk Aberdeen to support brain injury rehabilitation EIGHT physiotherapy students from Robert Gordon University provided professional sports massages to Kiltwalk Aberdeen participants recently to raise money for Brain Injury Grampian. RGU was approached by the event’s organisers to see what help its physiotherapy students could offer. The team had a tent in the Kiltwalk Village near the finish line in Duthie Park to provide sports massages in exchange for a small donation. The sports massage will release tension in the muscles, help to prevent injury and speed up the walkers’ recovery. Last year, more than 2,000 walkers hit the streets of Aberdeen to take part across all three of the event’s walks: The Wee Wander, The Big Stroll and The Mighty Stride – at 8
distances of five, 15 and 26 miles respectively.
and develop skills in modifying exercise.
Money raised by the students in the busy Kiltwalk Village was topped up by an additional 40 per cent by The Hunter Foundation.
Nathaniel Gathchalian, one of the RGU students who volunteered at the Kiltwalk, said: “A number of us have provided rehabilitation gym sessions to Brain Injury Grampian clients over the past semester and it’s given us a real connection with this good cause.
The eight students chose to support Brain Injury Group as they have a long-standing mutually-beneficial partnership with the charity. Across 14 weeks in the spring term, the students develop an exercise programme to help with the rehabilitation of the charity’s clients. This gives them an opportunity to build their confidence and access the gym or other exercise opportunities to maintain their physical activity throughout the year. The students benefit from this opportunity to work alongside people
ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGIES I AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2019
“If we can help them even further while providing relief to the hundreds of people taking part in the Kiltwalk, it is an excellent combination. “One of the key parts of the student experience at RGU is gaining practical skills which are invaluable for your future career, and we all enjoyed getting more ‘hands-on’ experience at the Kilkwalk.” Brain Injury Grampian is a volunteerled charity aiming to support those affected by Acquired Brain Injury by
raising awareness of the condition and reducing the social isolation often experienced by people affected by ABI. Deputy Convenor for Brain Injury Grampian, Rhona Davidson, added: “It is a great compliment to the BIG group that the students have chosen to support our charity, and we are very grateful. “The students have developed a better understanding of the effects of acquired brain injury and the devastating effect it can have on someone’s life. “The gym sessions are very popular with our members who have often become socially isolated. Many of them describe it as the highlight of their year. Our group feels very privileged that RGU continues to support it.”
Advertiser’s announcement
It may be summer but be aware of the dangers of flip flops ... THESE sometimes stylish, sometimes painful, items of footwear I have painfully discovered, can wreak even more havoc on other parts of the body too.
my sunglasses took the full force but still did some damage. I spent three hours in the local hospital having stitches (no anaesthetic) and steri strips applied which on a pain scale out of 10 was just about a 10.
For 50 weeks of the year most of us (men in particular) usually wear quite sensible and close fitting footwear until the lure of the sun makes us crave the freedom of a pair of what sometimes can be flimsy pieces of leather or rubber tied to our feet with a miniscule strip of material.
I am not saying do not wear flip flops. I am just trying to say be wary of them and I would recommend you wear them around the house before you pack them away for your holidays.
Along with the desire for some sun on our skin we do not take into consideration the changes in the environment where we will be wearing these flip flop ‘things’. The surface we are walking on is baking hot or wet from the pool or sea, walking on sand on the beach isn’t like the tarmac we are used to. Most of us wear sunglasses which can obscure our vision, especially when walking up steps or hills. There is also the lunchtime glass of vino or beer that can enter the equation, that’s just a few things that spring to mind. Why am I giving these items of footwear a hard time? A few weeks ago in Italy (no vino involved) I was wearing my lovely new flip flops purchased only a
NEWS
Reed Medical footwear designer warns of the dangers of flip flops on our feet and lower body.
Rant over!
week before from a reputable UK high street store (based in Somerset). I ascended the four small steps next to the pool, I climbed the first three like an expert but the last one caused me to go down like a Premier League centre forward. My flip flop clipped the top step causing me to stumble and fall, luckily my face, knees, shoulder along with a dining chair and the floor broke my fall. The rattan high back chair hit me in the eye: luckily
(The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the idiot who tripped up and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of other flip flop wearers at Reed Medical). Ensure your patients wear correctly fitted footwear – call for your copy of the Reeco adults and Reeco kids catalogues today. We are also UK distributors for Podowell (therapeutic footwear), Podartis (at risk footwear for the diabetic foot) and Varomed (a range of lymphoedema shoes and sandals). Call 01254 503333, email gillianw@reedmedical.co.uk or visit www.reedmedical.co.uk
ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGIES I AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2019
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Hospital and University join forces to create pioneering prosthetics and orthotics degree THE orthotics team at The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital have been working with Keele University and Opcare to create a pioneering degree in prosthetics and orthotics.
This unique project has involved consultation with the British Association of Prosthetists and Orthotists and the International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics. Jane Dewsbury, principle orthotist, added: “We are delighted to be working in partnership with Keele University to lead orthotics into a new era.
Helena Marshall, orthotist at the Oswestry-based hospital, began work on the project in December in collaboration with colleagues from the School of Health and Rehabilitation at Keele and Opcare, a supplier of prosthetic, orthotic and wheelchair services to the NHS. The development process of the course is scheduled to run until 2021 – it’s then hoped the first intake of students will start in the 2021/22 academic year. The bespoke project aims to address the national shortage of orthotists across the UK. The department of orthotics at RJAH is one of the largest in-house orthotics departments in the UK and helps to treat and rehabilitate patients by providing orthoses, braces and specialist footwear to help movement, correct deformity and relieve discomfort.
“Being an orthotist is such a rewarding career which involves a unique mix of patient contact, engineering and creativity.”
Orthotist Helena Marshall with principle orthotist Jane Dewsbury.
Helena has been seconded one day a week to work on the project.
in the expansion and further development in the field of orthotics.
She said: “There are currently around 400 orthotists in the UK and the British Healthcare Trades Association predict there needs to be a workforce increase of approximately 50 per cent to meet the current and future demand.
“We’re still in the stages of developing the course, but the content will be a mix of theory, practical work and clinical placements, both in the NHS and the private sector.”
“This innovative course is an exciting opportunity for RJAH to be involved
There are currently only two UK institutes that provide degrees in prosthetics and orthotics.
Professor Pauline Walsh, Pro ViceChancellor (Health and Wellbeing) and Executive Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at Keele University, concluded: “We are delighted to develop this pioneering course that will provide an opportunity to address the national shortage of orthotist and prosthetic professionals in the UK. “Our School of Health and Rehabilitation enjoy a positive partnership with RJAH, and is excited about this new development and the positive impact it will have for patients.”
Tailor-made prosthetic Podiatry student strides to liners could help more victory as first prize winner amputees walk again RESEARCHERS at the University of Bath have developed a new way of designing and manufacturing bespoke prosthetic liners. This potentially life-changing project combines advances in computer science with an innovative manufacturing process to create affordable new personalised prosthetic liners for lower limb amputees. This project, drawing on the expertise of a multidisciplinary team of researchers from the University of Bath’s Department of Mechanical Engineering, Department for Health and Centre for the Analysis of Motion, Entertainment Research and Applications (CAMERA), is a new approach to providing the liners which fit inside the prosthetic socket that attaches to the artificial leg. Dr Elena Seminati, Lecturer in Clinical Biomechanics at the University of Bath, said: “We use pressure sensors inside the liner to check that the pressure is not too high, which could cause skin damage. “Secondly we use motion capture technology to check that the movement of John’s lower limbs is symmetrical and we also measure him 10
walking across force plates to ensure there is no overloading in his knee, ankle and hip joints. “We’ve found this new liner reduces the pressure on the stump significantly, reducing the risk of skin damage and making it more comfortable to walk.” Amputees must currently return to their NHS prosthetist every time their limb changes size for their socket to be replaced or adjusted; many times in the first year following amputation. By providing a series of personalised liners of different sizes, that all fit within the same prosthetic socket, the frequency of these visits can be reduced, improving patient well-being and saving the NHS time and money. Using a state-of-the-art scanner which quickly captures 3D shape, the research team precisely scans an amputee’s residuum. The scanned data is then used to create a full digital model of the residuum which is subsequently used to design the personalised liner. The liner is then manufactured using a cryogenic machining technique, negating the need for complex and time consuming moulds.
ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGIES I AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2019
A NORTHAMPTON University podiatry student has stood apart from her peers after scooping the prize for a first of its kind competition from a prestigious, national health body.
Emily Spence
Emily Spence has just finished the final year of her degree but already has a prize future ahead of her after winning the Podiatric Medicine Clinical Research Award. Awarded by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons Glasgow, this is the first year it has been run by the august medical membership organisation. The aim of the competition is to encourage undergraduates to engage more with the research side of the profession by asking entrants to submit an academic poster of their own design and a 500-word reflective abstract based upon their third year dissertation projects. She said: “Diabetic patients are prone to problems with their feet and as students we are encouraged to provide such patients with education regarding how to best look after them. “However, during placements I noticed there appeared to be an inconsistency amongst the ways in which individual clinicians approach patient education.
“I collated the associated literature and set about exploring the views of a small group of patients at the University’s podiatry clinic. “The results of the research gave me a clear vision of the ideal education tutorial from the patients’ point of view. “This included details such as how long it should last, how often it should be repeated, if the inclusion of images was beneficial and whether or not modern technologies could enhance the process.” As the winner, Emily had the chance to present her poster at the RCPSG’s office in Glasgow and also received a £300 prize from the College. For her immediate future, Emily has her sights set on developing her expertise in diabetic foot care and branching out into podiatric surgery.
LANCASHIRE Care NHS Foundation Trust, one of the largest NHS Trusts in the UK, has saved almost half a million pounds and improved productivity levels among its employees since introducing a physiotherapy provision to its health and wellbeing service. LCFT is responsible for providing health and wellbeing services to around 1.5 million people across Lancashire and was looking for a way to improve the health and wellbeing of its staff to ensure they remained fit for work for service users. Occupational physiotherapy provider Physio Med was employed by the Trust to implement its innovative blended model of physiotherapy services in April 2017. Since then, Physio Med has increased productivity levels among the LCFT’s employees and enabled them to return to work more safely and, as a result, the Trust has reported savings of £491,504. By enabling LCFT’s staff to recover from injuries and return to work more quickly, employees who used the service also reported an average increase in productivity of 65 per cent and an average reduction in pain
levels of 57 per cent. The Physio Med service also enables LCFT’s employees to have any musculoskeletal disorders assessed within a maximum of three days. With the average time to access NHS physiotherapy currently standing at more than 14 weeks, this has significantly benefited the Trust as it relies on the fitness of its staff to deliver the most effective care possible to its patients. An LCFT spokesperson said: “The health and wellbeing of our staff is of utmost importance, so we wanted to give them the best possible chance of recovering more quickly and safely from MSDs. “By supplying them with access to a physiotherapy service which is flexible enough to meet their needs, they can now receive advice over the phone incredibly quickly or visit a practice of their choice if they need face-to-face treatment. “We’ve seen a significant reduction in MSD-related sickness absence among our employees as a result and we’ve also been able to help staff return to full health much more quickly.” Visually impaired alpine ski champion Kelly Gallagher MBE received an honorary degree at the University of Bath’s summer award ceremonies at the city’s Theatre Royal recently. She graduated from Bath with a degree in Mathematics in 2006 and went on to make history as the winner of Britain’s first winter Paralympic gold medal at the Sochi 2014 Winter Games. At the 2019 World Para Alpine Skiing Championships in January Kelly won a silver medal in downhill and bronze in both the super-G and combined disciplines.
DMO Essential stability shorts NEW from DM Orthotics Ltd – DMO Essential stability shorts for both adults and children!
n Multiple Sclerosis.
Our new stability shorts are similar to our made-to-measure orthoses but come in a range of pre-determined sizes.
n Low muscle tone.
The DMO stability shorts have been designed to aid lower limb function and posture while increasing the patients core strength and providing pelvic stabilisation. The DMO Essential stability shorts are seen to help patients manage the physical effects of a range of neurological conditions such as: n Cerebral Palsy.
Hang about in the bathroom JUST because someone may need help in the bathroom doesn’t mean they have to sacrifice style. Closomat, Britain’s market leader in supported intimate care, has taken that to heart. Its new look Lima Vita wall-hung toilet enables people to take advantage of the aesthetics and household cleaning benefits of a wall-hung WC, and simultaneously benefit from enhanced personal hygiene. Lima Vita does more: it is the only wall-hung shower/ wash dry toilet that can be accessorised to suit individual’s needs. Innovatively, accessories can be added when initially installed, and/or added retrospectively as needs change with time. The Lima Vita looks like, and can be used as, a conventional wallhung WC. It has hidden advantages over a traditional toilet. Its built-in washing and drying facilities mean there is no need to clean with toilet
n Impaired walking patterns.
n Stroke. n Parkinson’s. n Huntingdon’s Chorea. n Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. Find out more by visiting www.dmorthotics.com
Enquiries: Visit www.clos-o-mat.com
Our new shoulder stability orthosis provides you with similar benefits to our made-to-measure orthosis but in a range of pre-determined sizes.
n Shoulder dislocation.
The shoulder stability orthosis pulls the shoulders back, supports the shoulder blades and stabilises the shoulder joints.
n Neurological shoulder pain.
This provides the user with a greater comfort, improved posture and a greater range of movement.
n Erbs palsy.
The orthosis also provides benefits such as distal function and pain relief.
n Shoulder stability post-stroke.
The conditions that our shoulder stability orthosis is seen to help manage the physical effects of is: n Shoulder sub-luxation.
n Shoulder instability.
n Neuritis. n Shoulder impingement syndrome. n Cerebral Palsy. n Multiple Sclerosis. n Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. Find out more by visiting www.dmorthotics.com
The Urban Collection
A custom-made foot orthoses from Beagle Orthopaedic is fabricated by skilled technicians completely by hand to individual prescriptions casts and foot impressions.
n Traumatic brain injury.
Being wall-hung, it can be installed at just the right height to suit. There are no lips attaching it to the floor to trap dust and germs, so bathroom cleaning is simplified around and underneath. It also means, if there is underfloor heating, there is no risk of expensive pipework being damaged when the unit is fitted.
DMO Essential shoulder stability orthosis
WITH so many shapes, sizes of feet together with numerous, muscles, bones, joints and ligaments affecting the way we move, can a standard off-the-shelf or modular device really be the optimum treatment plan for you patient and may even lead to false economy.
n Ataxia.
paper. This gives enhanced hygiene, and consistency of cleanliness, without all the health and safety consideratons of manually cleaning – or being wiped clean – with toilet paper.
NEWS
NHS Trust saves nearly £500,000 thanks to physio
Correctly prescribed these hand made devices can give optimum correction and or pressure relief for effective outcomes.
To keep ordering simple we have designed a small range of products which will can tailored to suit a variety of indications. Named after Lancashire towns; Lytham, Blackburn, Bolton, Accrington, Lancaster and Whalley any one of the “Urban Collection” will provide a unique 3 dimensional orthoses to suit your patient pathologies. For further information please contact 01254 268788
ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGIES I AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2019
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NEWS
Art exhibition to bring disability research to life RESEARCH looking at attitudes towards disability has been brought to life through a unique London art exhibition.
A Worcester woman who lost her leg below the knee more than 20 years ago took part in an epic challenge by cycling across America. Linda Chen, a patient at Dorset Orthopaedic, was one member of ‘Mind over Matter’, the first British female adaptive team to enter the gruelling Race Across America – and raising awareness of both physical and mental health challenges along the way. All the women involved – four military (both serving and veterans) and four civilians – had an injury or impairment of some kind, with Linda the only amputee in the group. They rode in teams of four for nine hours at a time to finish the race, which started in Oceanside, California and ended 3,000 miles away in Annapolis in Maryland.
University and partners expand training with new scholarship award THE University of Salford has announced the award of an international scholarship to the Centre for Doctoral Training in Prosthetics and Orthotics.
The £140,000 scholarship will fund the PhD work of eminent Cambodian practitioner Sisary Kheng, who brings with her extensive experience and expertise from a region most in need of prosthetics and orthotics services. The donation has been made by the Coles-Medlock Foundation, a charitable trust that looks to support projects that give relief to people in the UK and around the world. David Medlock, chair of the Trust, is an alumnus of the University of Salford. Sisary Kheng is country director at Exceed (formerly the Cambodia Trust), overseeing Exceed Worldwide’s projects at three clinics in Cambodia in the fields of Comprehensive Physical Rehabilitation. She said: “I’m delighted to have been given the opportunity to pursue my doctoral training at the Salford CDT.
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change.”
In February, the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council announced it would fund a new centre of excellence for prosthetics and orthotics training. Led by the University of Salford with its partners Imperial College London, the University of Strathclyde and the University of Southampton, the Centre will train at least 60 individuals to doctoral level over the next eight years. This addresses an important skills gap at home and abroad including in many low and middle-income countries, such as Cambodia. Through the Centre, Salford is partnered with more than 27 industry and clinical collaborators, including two of the largest manufacturers of prosthetic and orthotic devices, Blatchford and Össur, and the global leader in research in the field, NorthWestern University in the US.
“For more than 20 years I have been working with patients and students in this important field of work, which provides genuinely life-changing support to people living with disabilities from medical, educational and societal perspectives.”
Centre director Malcolm Granat, Professor of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences at the University of Salford added: “As part of her scholarship application, we were particularly impressed with her personal story of overcoming adversity and of her high levels of talent in and commitment to the field of prosthetics and orthotics.
“I am looking forward to starting the next phase of my education and research in this field at Salford – an institution that I know shares my values of the highest levels of partnership and collaboration to affect real and lasting societal
“As part of her training programme, Sisary will be supported by national and global industry, and clinical, patient and service partnerships, who will ensure high-quality training, and provide placement and employment opportunities.”
ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGIES I AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2019
The bodyparts exhibition asked artists to interpret the findings of research into disability sport in multiple, visual ways so as to make it more accessible for the public. The research, funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council, examined how media coverage of para-sport shapes public attitudes or influences the everyday lives of disabled people. ‘Re-presenting para sport bodies: Disability and the cultural legacy of the Paralympics’ looked at the 2016 Games in order to understand audience interpretations of disabled bodies and how they were represented through the media. Conducted by Bournemouth University, Loughborough University, University of Bath and Western University in Canada; the research looked at how disabled bodies had been represented through the major sporting event and how attitudes towards such disabilities had changed through increased television and media exposure. The bodyparts exhibition mixed light, colour, sound and visualisation to create an interactive interpretation of the research through art, with disabled and non-disabled artists invited to take part. Professor Mike Silk from
Bournemouth University, who led the research, said, “The exhibition has taken a large part of our data, and taken the words of the general public and brought them to life and given them a feeling, given them an emotion and given them a real sense of purpose.
“The exhibition engages the senses – to touch, to listen to the exhibitions, to immerse ourselves in them; it’s a way of reaching out to the public through the medium of art to engage the public with the results of the research and challenge them with regard to their own attitudes toward disabilities” The research found that Paralympic representations of disability representation can and do affect positive social change with respect to disability awareness and visibility. Yet, there remains some distance to travel to eliminate some forms of exclusion, disempowerment, and marginalisation. These challenges remain particularly important related to less ‘palatable’, ‘aesthetically pleasing’, or less-visible disabilities. The research highlighted the visibility of disability provided through the increased amount and quality of Paralympic coverage. However, the research and the bodyparts exhibition challenged relevant stakeholders to imagine possible futures which would lead further enhance the development of sustainable and progressive Paralympic legacies.
ETAC R82 paediatric product advisor Mark Travers has successfully cycled up the equivalent height of Everest in 36-degree heat to raise £2,000 for his company’s charity partner – Newlife. Mark ascended and descended a 1.75-mile, 6.7 per cent incline hill, 46 times within 21 hours 41 minutes which accumulated the same attitude as the cruising height of most airliners. This altitude matched the height of the highest mountain in the world, Everest, which is a feat only completed by very few individuals around the world. His challenge took place between The Lamb Inn, Holymoorside, Derbyshire and Beeley Moor in the Peak District.