INNOVATION FOR INDEPENDENCE
ISSUE 127 JUNE/JULY 2019 £6.95
New device could cut rehab time and free up NHS resources A DIGITAL knee monitoring system could cut the need for intensive physiotherapy for knee replacement patients and free up health service resources. The product, named ‘Tap & Go’, straps to the knee of patients when they are ready to do their rehabilitation exercises from the convenience of their own home. Using Bluetooth and 3G technology, the device would pick up the motion of extension and flexion of the knee and sends the data to the cloud, from where a physiotherapist can monitor their progress remotely. The automated device then connects to the internet – but does not need the patient to have Wi-Fi or even a mobile phone. The prototype development of Tap & Go has now begun after securing £97,000 in funding from SBRI Healthcare. The device aims to tackle the clinical issues that patients currently face after surgery – such as being unable to travel to appointments – by using technology to reduce the need for unnecessary intensive hospital-based physiotherapy. It could also free up the time of NHS physiotherapists by cutting the need for unnecessary physio appointments. The project is being led by professor Michael Callaghan, professor of clinical physiotherapy at Manchester Metropolitan and head of physical therapies at Manchester United FC.
He said: “Most patients recover well after a knee replacement and as long as they complete the exercises given, there is no need to come to the hospital and see a physiotherapist twice a week for six weeks, which is the current recovery regime. “But the physiotherapists need to know that the exercises are being done regularly and that knee movement is improving, so ‘Tap & Go’ will monitor and record this. “A key issue that patients face post-surgery is that they are unable to drive or they find public transport difficult, so by allowing them to wear the device in their own home this prevents the cost of using ambulances or the stress of patients having to find alternative transport to get to the hospital regularly. “Many hospital appointments go ahead even though they are not needed and cost the NHS millions – this frees up face-to-face appointments and allows physiotherapists to spend more time with those patients that need it the most and will save the NHS a significant amount of money.” Michael identified issues within the process several years ago and has since been working alongside professor Patrick Gaydecki, professor of digital signal processing at the University of Manchester, to create a device that can monitor and measure knee movement from the patient’s home after surgery.
Grand Slam singles champion and Paralympic gold medallist Gordon Reid MBE served up an inspirational message as he received an honorary degree from Glasgow Caledonian University. The wheelchair tennis superstar, who has won titles at Wimbledon, the US Open, the French Open, and the Australian Open, told students that anything is possible in life through hard work. Born in Alexandria in 1991, he was a talented junior player until a week before his 13th birthday when a rare condition, Transverse Myelitis, left him paralysed from the waist down. By the age of 16, he was pulling on a Team GB shirt and competing at his first Paralympic Games in Beijing.
From Arsenal glory to student library – top physio swaps Premier League for university NEWS
BEN Ashworth has swapped the thrills and glory of working at a top Premier League club for the life of a student. He spent the last six years helping Arsenal compete for the Premier League, Champions League and winning three FA Cups along the way. As first team physiotherapist, Ben ensured top international players such as Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Lukasz Fabianski recovered from injuries and returned to form. But after leaving the Gunners last summer he decided to broaden his expertise by undertaking a PHD at Liverpool Hope University. Ben, who specialises in shoulder injuries, chose Hope because it is an established centre of excellence for upper limb and shoulder research. He said: “I absolutely loved my time at Arsenal. My favourite memories are always based around the players being successful. “The first FA Cup we won while I was there was in 2014 and we hadn’t won it for a while previously.
Ben Ashworth (above) and with former Arsenal and current Liverpool player Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (left).
he’d make it. But we worked hard together and got him back to being available. “When he came off the bench to get an assist it was a really special moment. The odds had been stacked against him being fit so it was brilliant.”
“It was nice to see the players get some reward after being criticised in the media for not winning much silverware. Arsene Wenger had been hammered for it despite all those top four finishes in the league.
Alex , who signed for Liverpool in a £35m deal in 2017, was so impressed by the work he did with Ben he consulted him again for extra help in recovering from the knee injury which meant he missed most of the current season.
“The following year when we got to the final the Ox had been injured and there were doubts whether
“Liverpool’s physio staff have done a fantastic job working with the Ox to help his knee,” added Ben.
“Because we’d worked together so closely at Arsenal he also asked me to help and I was thrilled to play a very small part.” Ben, who has also been a consultant to Major League Baseball team Toronto BlueJays, previously worked for Premiership Rugby Club Wasps and with the British Judo team. In 2012 he helped British Judoka Gemma Gibbons recover from a shoulder problem and compete at the London Olympics, where she went on to win a silver medal. As part of his previous research he has developed the Athletic Shoulder Test, which has become widely embraced by the sports industry for deciding when sportspeople are ready
to return to playing after shoulder injury. “Doing my PHD at Hope is about developing the knowledge behind the test,” he said. “The test has helped my work with a lot of private clients already, from MMA fighters to PGA Tour golfers, and a lot of clubs and sporting bodies use it. Not content with the academic rigours of a full-time PHD, the fatherof-one has also recently taken on the role of head of performance with top Czech football club Sparta Prague. At Sparta he will be reunited with former Arsenal forward Tomáš Rosický, who is now their sporting director.
Wheelchair helps Hannah get triathlon ready WORLD para-triathlete champion Hannah Moore has a new ally in her preparations to retain her crown in 2019 – the Ottobock Avantgarde wheelchair.
wasn’t doing a great deal of training but now I am doing so much more and that of course puts a lot more strain on my leg and increases the risk of sores and blisters,” she said.
Below-knee amputee Hannah, 22, who is also in her first year studying for a sports science degree at Loughborough University, has found the Avantgarde invaluable as she prepares and recovers from races, giving her residual limb the rest it needs.
On the advice of her coaches, she decided having a wheelchair would help speed up her recovery time after races and keep her leg as healthy as possible.
“When I first started with triathlon I
Hannah needed something lightweight and compact, and found exactly what she needed with the Avantgarde. The Avantgarde is Ottobock’s folding manual wheelchair for active users and as well as folding to just 27cm width, also comes in 17 different colours for the style savvy. It can have a fixed footplate or swing-away footrests and can be configured for almost all shapes and sizes, with 84 separate configuration points.
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when you’re living in halls like me, and for when we travel for competitions.”
“This is so much better than the chair I previously had before my amputation,” she added.
Hannah is now preparing for a busy season ahead as she seeks to retain her European and World titles in her classification, PTS4 (for lower limb and through shoulder amputees), as well as trying to qualify for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics.
“It folds up so small which is ideal
However, with women’s PTS4
classification not being run in Tokyo, Hannah will have to try to steal a spot from two established paratriathletes – Claire Cashmore and Lauren Steadman – in the PTS5 category, a classification dominated by below-elbow amputees. “It’s going to be a tough season ahead with a lot to aim for but I’m looking forward to the challenge. All I can do is give it my best,” she concluded.
Physio lands fellowship for Parkinson’s research
Dominic Musgrave Group Production Editor Email: dm@scriptmedia.co.uk Tel: 01226 734407 Sales Carole Rice Product Manager Email: cr@scriptmedia.co.uk Tel: 01226 734412 Fax: 01226 734478
This will lead to a feasibility study where a number of people living with Parkinson’s will track their own progress at RGU SPORT, while also examining the benefits of the additional social aspect of their treatment.
Julie Jones
equal importance.
The funding will allow Julie to take a sabbatical from teaching and focus on her PhD full-time for the next three years, as she works to revolutionise patient care in her particular field of physiotherapy.
“Exercise is clearly beneficial from a physical perspective, but there is a growing consensus that is leads to physiological changes within the brain that may have a disease modifying effect.”
She said: “There is much evidence that engaging in regular exercise has numerous benefits for Parkinson’s management – not solely as complementary to medication, but of
As part of her work, Julie will be training fellow physiotherapists, alongside exercise coaches at RGU SPORT, on behavioural change and strategies to support people
Tony Barry Sales and Marketing Director Email: tb@scriptmedia.co.uk
Julie added: “If this study proves successful and the participants show real progress having embedded exercise in their daily life, this approach could be rolled out wider across the NHS.
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“By working directly with patients and the professionals who can best support them, we can make a real difference on the lives of people living with Parkinson’s.” In addition to the organisations directly supporting Julie’s fellowship, this work will be undertaken in collaboration with the University of Aberdeen, Newcastle University and NHS Grampian – where she will spend part of each week in a clinical role.
At Script Media, we try to get things right but occasionally, we make mistakes. If you have a complaint about a story featured in our magazine or on our website, please, in the first instance, contact us by email: dm@scriptmedia.co.uk We abide by the Editors’ Code of Practice as demanded by the Independent Press Standards Organisation. For details on the code and what to do should you be unsatisfied with the way we handle your complaint, please visit www.ipso.co.uk
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Editorial Judith Halkerston Group Editor Email: jh@scriptmedia.co.uk
with Parkinson’s participate in the management of their condition.
A SENIOR academic and physiotherapist at Robert Gordon University has been awarded a fullyfunded PhD fellowship from the Scottish Government’s Chief Scientist Office and Parkinson’s UK, to further her work on exercise provision for people living with the complex longterm condition. Julie Jones, a senior lecturer in RGU’s School of Health Sciences, has been awarded around £250,000 for the Clinical Academic Fellowship, which is the first of its kind received by a member of RGU and a rare achievement for an allied health practitioner.
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ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGIES I JUNE/JULY 2019
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NEWS LIMB-art founder and former Paralympian Mark Williams is wanting to trace the driver who knock him off his bike when he was 10-years-old, which resulted in him losing his left leg.
Paralympian who lost a leg as a boy wants to thank driver who knocked him off bike
award rewards those with disabilities who have demonstrated exceptional entrepreneurial spirit and business ability in the face of significant barriers.
A PARALYMPIAN who lost his leg in a cycling accident as a child is trying to trace the man who knocked him down.
Mark Williams, 47, from Denbighshire has launched a campaign on Facebook to find the driver – so he can thank him for transforming his life.
Mark, who was a medallist at the Seoul Paralympics in 1988, added: “Although prostheses have come on in leaps and bounds functionally, how they look has generally been overlooked.
Mark was aged 10 when he was cycling home from school on the day Prince William was born – June 21, 1982 – when he was involved in a road traffic accident in Pen y Maes, Rhyl, North Wales. He lost his leg as a result of the accident. He said: “This changed my life – for the better. I often say it was the best day of my life. “The accident changed my attitude and pushed me to do better. It transformed me from a shy 10-yearold boy, who couldn’t swim, into a super-confident athlete winning medals in the pool. “I am trying to find the driver of the car involved to shake his hand and let him know of all the amazing things I have done as a result of the accident. “This has including competing and winning medals at The Paralympics and World Championship in swimming, having an amazing career and now starting a business making prosthetic leg covers which has the
“LIMB-art aims to change this. Our covers are a completely customisable accessory, lightweight and easy to fit and they are suitable for all users of above and below knee prostheses.
potential to help people all over the world. “I am so proud of everything I have done and speak publicly about it. None of it would have happened without the accident. I’m hoping I can find the man and shake his hand. It would help me, but more it’s to help him.”
Mark’s company LIMB-art designs and manufactures prosthetic leg covers. He is on a mission to give prosthetic legs a better shape traditionally offered on the NHS and which resemble ‘poles’ - as well as allowing the wearer to express their personality.
Mark says the driver of the car was middle aged and may have lived in the area.
As well as new prosthetic leg covers lit with flashing LED lights, his bespoke designs featuring everything from the Welsh flag to Remembrance Day covers.
Anyone with any information should contact him via his Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ mark.o.williams2
The company was one of five finalists of the Stelios Awards for Disabled Entrepreneurs, hosted by EasyJet founder Stelios Haji-Ioannou. The
“Our covers not only give the wearer a full leg shape and restore balance to their silhouette, they also boost their confidence and allow them to show their personality because we offer a whole range of colours and designs. “When you wear a cool looking cover, it breaks down barriers and cuts out awkward stares. “I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve been stopped in the street and been told my leg looks amazing. “We don’t want prosthetic wearers to hide away or be self-conscious. “We want to be known worldwide for making the coolest prosthetic leg covers so people who wear them feel they can stand out and stand proud.”
Campaign aims to open up independence MOBILITY products specialist TGA has introduced a new funding information campaign to help individuals with disabilities gain independence through mobility scooters, wheelchairs or powered wheelchairs. Entitled #FundMyFreedom, this social media initiative signposts people to possible sources of funding for mobility products. TGA will be encouraging its own online communities and specialist 4
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bloggers, vloggers and influencers to engage with their followers to generate social networking on the subject. Daniel Stone, TGA managing director, said: “We are totally focused on delivering independence for all. This is why we are rolling out our new #FundMyFreedomcampaign so that irrespective of age or ability, everyone can access the means they need to live on their own terms. “As the challenges of loneliness and
mental health continue to grow, the ability to move freely indoors and out, becomes even more essential.
and impartial guidance from the knowledgeable TGA customer services team.
“Through the support of funding, this pioneering powerchair could help so many more disabled people fulfil their true potential.”
As TGA products are suitable for a vast range of mobility needs, this ethical specialist will be generating social traffic and directing enquiries to several diverse regional and national charities.
By actively sharing personal experiences, people who have been denied independence, will have the opportunity to achieve freedom. Social activity will be enhanced by website information, offline collateral
It also supports various military charities, donates to inspirational individuals and works closely with occupational therapists.
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Advertiser’s announcement
Let go and fly… AS an avid runner for years, Cheryl Hile and her husband have loved to travel the world and run marathons. But in October 2006, she was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and everything changed. The symptoms, including debilitating fatigue, muscle spasticity, neuropathic pain, and specifically foot drop, quickly halted her ability to run. “I had not been able to run for almost a year due to drop foot that began six months after my diagnosis,” Cheryl said. “During a race, I started tripping and falling, and finished the run with bloody knees. Soon after, I learned the falling was due to foot drop.” Despite the advice of Cheryl’s neurologist to “lower her expectations,” she was determined to run again. For more than 10 years, Cheryl has worn an AFO, which has helped her complete many marathons. However, she still struggled with most of the brace options on the market. In 2018, Cheryl decided it was time to move on and try a new AFO model with different composite materials. She met the Thuasne team and they worked together on a custom AFO designed for her needs. 6
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Ultimately, that brace inspired the SpryStep® Flex. The carbon fibre materials are lighter and more flexible and decrease the amount of discomfort Cheryl feels while running long distances. Despite having a disease that stops people from moving, Cheryl continues to charge forward. In 2017 she set a record of becoming the first person with MS to run seven marathons on seven continents in 12 months. In October, 2018 Cheryl reached her second goal; to gather the biggest group of people with MS to participate in the Detroit Marathon! Cheryl has a mission to reach people with MS and encourage them to either start an exercise program or keep pushing forward with their current sport. Cheryl Hile is an inspiration to us all and a wonderful reminder of how our Thuasne products help improve lives! Cheryl often tells herself to trust the AFO while running, to let go and fly… Watch Cheryl by searching “Cheryl Hile SpryStep” on YouTube To book a demonstration of SpryStep call 01295 257422 or email orders@thuasne.co.uk www.thuasne.co.uk
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Tech entrepreneurs’ research to improve Team GB hopeful’s prosthetic leg socket technology to work proactively in adjusting to, and supporting each individual patient’s needs.
TWO young entrepreneurs at the University of the West of England are working on improving the design of prosthetic legs and their sockets in collaboration with an athlete.
He said: “We are now able to combine biological human sensory systems with smart external limbs and this will be helping individuals to overcome certain physical limitations and, in some cases, restore their quality of life.”
Working in Bristol Robotics Laboratory with Dr Appolinaire Etoundi, Mike Rose and Mayur Hulke are using technology to help develop a more comfortable prosthetic socket for Paralympics hopeful Tania Goddard.
Tania, who used to work as a police community support officer in South Bristol, had her leg amputated in 2012 due to a medical condition. Despite learning very quickly to use her new prosthetic limb, she has been unable to find a socket that is pain-free.
Tania is an above-knee amputee who is part of the British Shooting Talent Pathway Programme for Team GB and hopes to compete in the Paralympic Games, either in Tokyo 2020 or Paris 2024. Two years ago she approached Dr Etoundi, who is senior lecturer in Mechatronics at UWE Bristol and uses inspiration from systems found in nature to optimise rehabilitation devices such as prosthetic limbs. She asked him to develop a socket to house her prosthetic leg that avoids common discomfort experienced with existing models, such as chafing or excessive temperatures. With a background in mechanical engineering, Dr Etoundi is working to identify the cause behind this discomfort and use technology to come up with solutions. “The aim is to develop an intelligent socket that will adapt to the patient’s condition through the use of artificial intelligence and composite materials to determine when there are fluctuations in temperature and
pressure within the socket,” said Dr Etoundi, who works in BRL, which is based on the University’s Frenchay campus. Mike Rose, who is a robotics student at UWE Bristol, is to provide an innovative design able to measure internal changes occurring inside the socket, using sensors.
Mike added: “Our current research involves looking into electromyography (EMGs) and mechanomyography (MMGs) sensors and understanding how they react to the subtle movements of human muscles.
It will do this by collecting the data and passing it through a deep learning algorithm before processing the information into a useable format.
“Working very closely with Dr Etoundi, we are currently using the data from EMG sensors to see how we can manipulate robotic systems such as artificial lower limbs and prosthetic sockets.”
This data will be used to enable the design of a smart socket to provide improved comfort for the wearer as well as giving a detailed analysis of the system’s daily operation.
Mayur Hulke, working alongside user experience researcher Diana Kviatkovskaja, is focused on developing a form of artificial intelligence that enables the
“After 15 NHS sockets in two years and being told they were unable to help me lead a normal life, I thought I had to face living the rest of my life in a wheelchair,” she said. “This work is giving me real hope to be able to walk again, and it could help thousands of amputees across the world, because if they can get a socket design to fit me, then it will fit anyone. All I ever wanted to was to be able to go back out on patrol as a police officer and be a proper mum to my children.” As part of the research project conducted by Dr Etoundi, she has walked around the Frenchay campus wearing one of her prosthetic legs on a socket containing specially designed sensors detecting where rubbing occurs, as well as fluctuations in temperature.
University and Our Dorset Integrated Care System launch partnership to innovate healthcare A NEW partnership between Bournemouth University, the local NHS and industry has been launched with the aim of using innovation to drive forward improvements in healthcare outcomes for people across Dorset.
University in areas like medical science and biomedical science and a new building is currently being built at the university’s Lansdowne Campus, to be the home of the Health and Social Sciences Faculty from September 2020.
The ‘Transforming Healthcare Through Innovation’ event, attended by over 150 specialists from across professional practice, academia and business, marked the start of a formal partnership between Bournemouth University and Dorset’s Integrated Care System , which is a partnership of all NHS and local authorities in the county.
Professor Tim McIntyre-Bhatty, deputy vicechancellor at Bournemouth University, added: “Medical science is a strategic investment area within BU2025, which is the university’s vision and strategic plan that was launched last year.
As well as hearing from key speakers involved in Dorset health care, the event featured practical examples of how technology is being used to innovate. Tim Goodson, chief officer at NHS Dorset CCG, said: “This partnership will support and strengthen our efforts to improve health care delivery. “The event has underlined the steps we are already taking to innovate, from smartphone technology allowing health care professionals to assess patients at home or triage them on arrival in urgent care, to co-designed self-management apps for long term conditions and emerging 8
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technologies to diagnose and manage lower back pain. “I look forward to working closely with Bournemouth University and seeing the benefits it brings to patient care, now and in the future.” Oculus Rift and Google Cardboard technologies used to train healthcare workers and students in how to monitor and treat patients through virtual reality were demonstrated at the launch. Delegates were able to experience the use of virtual reality technology in orthopaedic operations and see the latest walk-through design of the Living Lab Science Park. Alongside research areas like assistive technology, new courses are being offered at Bournemouth
“We will see a range of emergent benefits to healthcare in Dorset as we work together with ambitions of supporting a high quality of life for a population that is living longer and wanting to enjoy an active lifestyle. “This partnership is an opportunity to think differently and find innovative solutions to regional health challenges that can also inform and lead national and international thinking within medical care and medical science.” In achieving greater integration, the partnership aims to collaboratively bid for innovation funding opportunities and improve workforce education, enhancing Dorset’s position as a leading area for research into transformative healthcare nationally.
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Initiatives optimise community loan equipment recycling rates RECENT media coverage has highlighted the potential costs to the NHS and local councils of discarded and retained community loan equipment such as walking frames, sticks, crutches and other daily living aids, and even more expensive items such as wheelchairs and hoists. One company is working hard to improve return percentages by addressing this issue directly, introducing a variety of initiatives to encourage and simplify the return of equipment on loan. Medequip instigated the Return, Reuse, Recycle campaign in partnership with West Suffolk NHS back in 2017 and has seen recycling rates increase significantly in line with this initiative. As a result, the company has now begun rolling out the campaign across other local council areas where it is the appointed provider of community loan equipment. “It’s not as simple as knowing where the equipment is originally deployed,” said Medequip’s cusiness support manager Michaela Harris.
and touch points to encourage returns from the general public. The initiatives are working. Although not every item is suitable for recycling, with single use items such as ventilators and continence aids, currently 77 per cent of all equipment delivered by Medequip is successfully collected once it is no longer required.
“Equipment may be lost, passed on to another family member or even put away in a loft. We realised we needed to get the message across to the general public that it is important to return these items, but we also recognised that we had to make it easier for people to arrange collection or to return the equipment to an accessible location.” All equipment delivered by Medequip is now accompanied by a leaflet with full details on how to return the items once they are no longer required, and every item carries a barcode label which also features a collection telephone number and a unique
identifying code. In addition, to promote awareness of the importance of returning equipment, Medequip produces posters for display at locations including hospitals, health centres, Citizens’ Advice offices, libraries and similar areas, stressing the importance of this. The message is underlined using social media platforms and assisted by the provision of ‘amnesty bins’ in convenient spots to enable service users to drop off items no longer required. Medequip has a 24-point collection plan designed to maximise collections
Of this, 91 per cent is successfully recycled, with the remaining nine per cent consisting of items considered no longer fit for purpose due to damage or excessive wear and tear. Here, Medequip has a policy of salvaging parts that can then be used to repair other items and return them to service. “We are continuing to work with our contract partners to identify new ways to increase collections and returns, to change the behaviour within the communities where we operate,” added Michaela. “Our vision is to deliver cost effective, efficient and safe healthcare solutions, and we monitor our figures on a monthly basis to identify successes and areas for improvement.”
Advertiser’s announcement
Company profile – DeNovo Healthcare How has the first quarter of 2019 been for your company? DeNovo have had a strong first quarter in a period of political and economic uncertainty due to BREXIT. All sectors performed better than anticipated, reassuring us that our quality and service are key elements in satisfying the customer’s needs. the NHS under increasing pressure to make savings and continue to deliver a high-quality service.
What have you got coming up this year? New products, exhibiting at shows etc… DeNovo are exhibiting at five exhibitions this year including, Kidz to Adultz, FootHealth and the College of Podiatry Annual Conference. We are relaunching the Swing
We also have seen a significant increase in private patients requiring our products and services. Phase Lock Orthoses (SPL2) with a range of clinical workshops around the UK. The SPL2 is an extremely cost effective way of managing Quadriceps insufficiency. A comprehensive range of DeNovo ultra-thin inlays are now available in a modular form which are compatible with both Nimco footwear and the ‘Dynamic Walk’ orthosis Our Integrated Orthosis Boot (IOB) is now established and offers a cosmetic solution for those who wish their orthoses to be less noticeable.
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How do you see the industry changing/ evolving? We feel the industry will continue to evolve such that we will see more private customers supplementing the supply of products offered by the NHS. This will continue to bring new opportunities for us to demonstrate our level of customer service. What have been the biggest changes you have seen in the industry over the last few years? The industry is ever changing with
What are the long term plans/hopes for the company? We plan to continue to expand our portfolio of products focusing on new technology and targeting areas where real benefits and saving can be offered to our industry. We also have plans to develop structured educational programs focused on a patient centred approach to help the clinician understand the advantages of the products we supply. Enquiries: Call 01934 808416 or visit www.denovohealthcare.com
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First degree apprenticeships in physiotherapy and occupational therapy are launched in UK SHEFFIELD Hallam University has become the first institution in the UK to offer degree apprenticeships in physiotherapy and occupational therapy.
to become members of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy. Conor Moss, director of NCEDA, said: “Degree apprenticeships provide more routes to success for more people, particularly in regions with traditionally low productivity.
Current and aspiring physiotherapists and occupational therapists now have the opportunity to gain a degree while working.
“Our courses are designed to address skills gaps in priority sectors - helping to drive regional and national economic growth.
Ruth Allarton, head of Sheffield Hallam’s department for allied health professions, added: “These new degree apprenticeships are an exciting development for the physiotherapy and occupational therapy professions. “The fact Sheffield Hallam is the first university in the country to run these courses is an example of how we can use our extensive expertise in healthcare and longstanding partnerships to provide employers with an additional route to train registered health care professionals or attract new talent to the healthcare workforce.” As part of Sheffield Hallam’s National Centre of Excellence for Degree Apprenticeships, the apprentices will attend a series of study blocks throughout the year within the University’s teaching facilities with the remaining time being spent applying their learning within the workplace.
“At a time when the health sector faces a workforce crisis, these two new degree apprenticeships in physiotherapy and occupational therapy are a unique opportunity for health sector employers to recruit new, career-ready professionals or develop the skills and capabilities of their existing workforce.” The new courses have been approved by the Health and Care Professions Council as well as by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy and the Royal College of Occupational Therapists. The employer’s apprenticeship levy or co-funding will cover the course fees and the apprentices will receive a salary as they learn. The intensive 30-month courses have been designed in consultation with employers from primary and
secondary care, local government and the private sector across Yorkshire and the Humber, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire. They include an integrated end-point assessment which checks that the employee meets the apprenticeship standard and is ready to join the profession with full occupational competence. Graduates are eligible to apply to register with the HCPC and can apply
Sheffield Hallam is the largest provider of health and social care education in England with more than 8,000 students qualifying as healthcare professionals from Sheffield Hallam in the last five years. With courses covering all aspects of healthcare including: nursing, midwifery, allied health, social care and sport, its curriculum creates the skilled workforce the NHS needs to deliver better long-term health outcomes for the nation.
House opens to test next generation of care and companion robots A SEMI-detached house in Hatfield, Hertfordshire has been fully upgraded to become home to a group of next generation robots which will be used for research by robotics academics from across the world.
“Our team has pioneered research into the application of robotics in social care and the new resident robots will enable us to continue this important work to evolve the use of robots as care assistants in a home environment.”
The cutting-edge Robot House 2.0 research facility for studying the latest care and companion robot technology is led by professor Farshid Amirabdollahian, who leads the assistive and rehabilitation robotics team at the University of Hertfordshire.
Additionally, the state-of-the-art Robot House facility will also support researchers from other institutions studying ambient-assisted and companion technology.
Researchers from the University will explore how to ensure robots act in a socially acceptable way to engender trust among the people that interact with them, in an authentic home environment using the latest robot models. Professor John Senior, pro vicechancellor research and enterprise at the University of Hertfordshire, commented: “The overarching aim of our research is to design and test scenarios in which robots provide direct support to people in their homes. 12
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The eight new resident robots are all designed to provide people with social, physical and cognitive support, mostly within a care context. Some are programmed to help people fetch objects, while others prompt people to look after themselves by reminding them to drink water regularly, eat three meals a day or take their medicine The facility’s new flagship robot Care-o-Bot 4 is the only robot of its type available for open use in the UK and features sophisticated mobility and a socially interactive design. The original Robot House first
opened in 2008 and its research projects have laid the foundations for breakthroughs in human-robot interaction. Many of the previous Robot House research projects have particularly focused on investigating how robotics technologies can support independent living in later life. Robot House has been awarded an ESPRC Strategic Equipment award, a key initiative designed to enhance the UK’s scientific capability in national priority research areas, which has funded the purchase of the latest robotics hardware and
systems upgrades. The University of Hertfordshire is consequently now able to open the doors of Robot House 2.0 to external research groups and industry in the UK and internationally. The University of Oslo’s Department for Informatics are using the Robot House for its Multimodal Elderly Care Systems project. This research aims to develop new, user-centred adaptive technologies, for use in care settings, that can sense, learn and predict future events, such as falls among older people.
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Bioness L300 Go gives Paralympic archer Dave a new lease of life PARALYMPIC archer Dave Phillips has described how the Bioness L300 Go FES device has changed his life for the better since being diagnosed with MS 23 years ago.
gait cycle,” said Jana Middlebook, Ottobock orthotics academy clinician. “The 3D motion-detecting gyroscope within the system negates the need for a footswitch, and ensures neuro-stimulation is provided in all three planes of motion. This ensures patients can turn safely, walk backward and adapt to dayto-day changes in their walking environment.”
Dave, from Cwmbran, was diagnosed with the often debilitating condition after he woke one morning to find his right leg was numb and would not co-operate. He spent six weeks in hospital, as doctors tried to work out what was wrong with him, until eventually a diagnosis of MS — the relapsing remitting strain of the disease — was made.
An additional benefit of the L300 Go is its simplicity to fit and programme. With intuitive programming, certified clinicians can get a patient assessed and trialling the device within a few minutes, meaning a patient can use more of their appointment time learning how to use the device. It can also be used with a thigh cuff which stimulates the quadriceps and hamstrings in addition to the lower limb.
“I didn’t know what it meant,” said Dave. “He said that I had MS so bluntly, and all I could think was, ‘what’s Marks and Spencer got to do with it?’ – that is how little I knew. “Back then, no treatment was offered. I was just told I had it and to go away and get on with my life. But it took six months to recover from what had happened, and it was immediately followed by an attack which affected my vision for another six months so it was a tough time.” Dave, who worked at Tata at Orb Electrical Steels before taking early retirement, admits he was in denial about his condition for several years, and didn’t want his colleagues to know there was anything wrong.
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it became a topic of conversation whether life in a wheelchair was the way forward.
For Dave, the system reactivated the muscles in his leg to lift his foot properly and walk with confidence.
It was during this time his wife, Angie, persuaded him to try archery once again. He’d been a promising bowman in his youth but gave it up to forge a career and raise his family.
He said: “Once it was set up for my needs it was so easy to use. I just get up and go, and I don’t have to worry about my foot catching something as I walk. Before, I had to think about where I was going because I wasn’t confident in my walking but now I feel free to explore again, and I can enjoy more quality time with my family.”
His rise within the sport was rapid, and three years after picking up a bow again, he was shooting recurve at the Rio 2016 Paralympics.
Since Dave’s diagnosis, he’s suffered a number of relapses and the lasting legacy has been fatigue and the drop foot he suffers on the leg which went numb all those years ago.
While competing, Dave discovered the product which would enhance his life. He saw another competitor wearing a functional electrical system, the Bioness L300 Go, and it gave Dave a glimmer of hope.
As time progressed, his ability to walk properly reduced, and going out became too much of a risk. Constantly falling and stumbling,
“The L300 Go is a wireless lowerlimb FES device, which provides dorsiflexion assist and finite control of inversion and eversion through the
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Wife Angie was there when he was first fitted with it. “To see him walking normally again was a miracle to me,” she said. “We’re able to take our goddaughter, Lucy, who is seven, out and about. Dave would never have been able to do that before. She says granddad has a new leg.”
It’s not just orthotic technology which helps Dave but a drug called Gilenya he takes to suppress his immune system and therefore stop it attacking his nervous system. “I’ve done a lot of research over the years and I try to keep up with the latest innovations,” said Dave.“We went and got a second opinion and met a specialist called Fada Joseph and his team of MS nurses, who have been our angels and changed our lives. He got me started on different medications, and each new one I try, there’s a better result. So things have really advanced.” Over the years, both Dave and Angie have realised how important it is to give back and they are now qualified volunteers for MS Society Cymru, as well as foster parents. “It wasn’t just me who got diagnosed with MS all those years ago. In a way my whole family was diagnosed with it,” said Dave. “They’ve had to be there all the way and go through the same emotional rollercoaster as me, they suffer just as much. Being able to support people with MS, and their families, is really important to us.” Dave’s message to those with MS is to stay positive and as active as possible. “I want to use my platform as a Paralympian to say ‘please don’t give up on yourself’. You can keep it at bay for longer now, you can still work those muscles. I’m proof you can still have a life, with the right lifestyle, exercise, medication and aids if you need them. You can still achieve, don’t give up hope.” To find out more about the Bioness L300 Go, visit www.ottobock.co.uk/orthotics/
Could virtual reality be the key to helping people with persistent pain? EXPERTS at Teesside University are part of a pioneering international project which is spearheading the use of virtual reality to help people living with persistent pain.
Professor Denis Martin from CRESS, who is leading the Teesside University work, said: “There have been some really imaginative ideas worked up so far that could make a real difference to the lives of people living with persistent pain.
It is hoped that the use of virtual and digital technology could provide additional opportunities to help people overcome life-limiting conditions.
“There is a lot of interest in what we are doing from organisations who are involved in pain management.
Teesside University is one of the partners in the 2.4million euros VR4Rehab project, along with universities, hospitals and industry in the Netherlands, UK, France, Germany and Belgium. The project is funded by the EU North West Europe Interreg programme. Through the University’s Centre for Rehabilitation, Exercise and Sport Sciences and its Healthcare Innovation Centre, experts at Teesside are heading up the persistent pain theme of the project. Teams of digital designers and experts in pain management from across Europe were invited to the University’s Darlington campus to present virtual reality products which could potentially assist people living with persistent pain. Two companies were then chosen as winners and they will now work with Teesside University to help bring the
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partners over the next 18 months to develop their products and get them ready for market.
“Virtual reality technology is something that is developing rapidly and it certainly has the potential to make a positive impact to help people manage and overcome persistent pain.
Professor Denis Martin
products to market. The first winners were Get Out, based in Nijmegen, Holland, who have developed a virtual reality game to help people with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome. Complex Regional Pain Syndrome is where the nervous system makes an area, such as the arm or hand, painful all the time and patients are reluctant to move that area at all – making it immobile and adding to the pain. Get Out have used immersive technology to develop a virtual reality game which provides a distraction for
people to move their arms and hands without necessarily thinking about it – ultimately helping people to become more active and aiding recovery. The second winners were SyncVR, from Rotterdam, who are developing a virtual reality platform for the Pain Toolkit, a world-leading website which provides advice and support for people with persistent pain. The platform will allow people from around the world to meet up in a ‘virtual support group’. Both groups will now work with Teesside University and VR4Rehab
“The technology is very exciting, but it also has to be useful. “By combining the technology with our expertise, we can take full advantage of the increase of virtual reality.” In addition to the virtual reality products, Teesside University students on the BA (Hons) Comics and Graphic Novels course have produced a number of illustrations to help teach young people about pain management which both winning companies expressed a desire to incorporate into their work.
Physio Med appointed to improve staff wellbeing at Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust approach of fast-track telephone triage, remote multimedia self-management and face-to-face treatment and advice.
PHYSIOTHERAPY provider Physio Med has secured a contract to help improve the health of staff and reduce levels of sickness absence at the Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust.
Any employee suffering from a musculoskeletal condition can be referred to Physio Med via the Trust’s occupational health department and the employee then receives a call back within four hours to ensure they are appropriate to access the service.
The Trust employs more than 4,000 staff who provide health and wellbeing services at two hospitals in Harrogate and Ripon, community and children’s services across North Yorkshire, and a range of children’s services in Teesside, Durham and Tyne and Wear.
An initial telephone assessment with a senior chartered physiotherapist then takes place within a maximum of 72 hours and the employee receives either a tailored exercise programme to enable them to self-manage their condition or is referred for face-to-face treatment at a local clinic of their choice within Physio Med’s approved UK-wide network of physiotherapy clinics.
Many of the job roles within the Trust are physically demanding, resulting in some staff suffering musculoskeletal disorders, causing them to be absent from work or to work at reduced levels of productivity. Phil Clayton, managing director of Physio Med, said: “It’s great that the Trust is helping its employees recover from musculoskeletal injuries quicker and more safely and we’re thrilled to play a part in that. “The work the Trust does is vital for the wider community so we’re more than happy to help its employees stay fit and help them do their jobs to the best of their abilities.” With access to physiotherapy via GP referral currently standing at more than 14 weeks, the Trust wanted to introduce a service to ensure its employees could receive treatment much quicker and allow them to continue to deliver their services
Michael Smith, Head of Employee Health and Wellbeing for the Harrogate and Airedale Occupational Health Clinical Alliance.
to patients. Physio Med is now providing the Trust’s employees with access to a fast-track physiotherapy provision in order to safeguard their wellbeing and increase productivity. Staff members have access to Physio Med’s innovative and award winning PAL (Physiotherapy Advice Line) service, which provides a blended
Those who self-manage receive a review with a physiotherapist after 10 working days to assess their progress. Michael Smith, head of employee health and Wellbeing for the Harrogate and Airedale Occupational Health Clinical Alliance, added: “Safeguarding the health and wellbeing of all our employees is vitally important to both the Trust and the patients who rely on them everyday, so we’re delighted to provide them with access to a highquality physiotherapy provision which is proven to deliver excellent results.” ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGIES I JUNE/JULY 2019
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Lecturer scores with lead physio role for England Students’ rugby team A UNIVERSITY of Cumbria physiotherapy lecturer has scored the job of his dreams after being named lead physiotherapist for the England Students’ rugby union team. Stephen Rowell, 36, from Bishop Auckland, applied for the role after working as an Instructor on the Rugby Football Union’s pitch-side immediate care course, never imagining to get it after an competitive process. As lead physiotherapist, it will be Stephen’s job to ensure the team are on top form and that they have access to the right equipment.
this adventure.”
Newcastle Falcons Rugby Club.
Stephen’s role is to work with the team over a two-year period and offers other development opportunities within the role. The whole support team including physiotherapists, doctors, analysts, coaches and managers are professionally developed with the view of them taking their learning experiences back to the amateur game.
Stephen worked full-time in professional rugby for four years before swapping the high-pressure, time-consuming roles that regularly saw him work over a 70-hour week, for an academic career at the University of Cumbria.
He said: “It’s a fantastic opportunity being able to develop my physiotherapy expertise at an elite level.
However, this is not Stephen’s first taste of the sport; he has played both rugby union and rugby league at amateur level. After completing a BSc in sport and exercise science, he even moved to live and play rugby in Italy, only giving up to pursue a career as a physiotherapist.
“Opportunities as a physiotherapist in the world of elite international sport don’t come up very often and so I am hugely grateful for the support of my managers for seeing this as a great chance and supporting me on
Upon achieving a master’s qualification in physiotherapy at the University of Teesside, he worked for the NHS before returning to his roots, providing physiotherapy expertise to Hull FC in the Super League and later
He now feels he has more of a work/ life balance and experiences the best of both worlds, combining his love of sport, teaching and research while allowing him more time with his family. Stephen still provides physiotherapy support to Cumbrian based Newcastle Falcons Academy players, who train in Kendal, and coaches his son’s rugby team. In the future, Stephen plans to develop his own PhD in the area of musculoskeletal research in rugby union, focusing on players landing mechanics, injury prevention and performance maximisation.
Stephen Rowell
Edinburgh hospice trials virtual reality experience to help patients in pain Viarama, which is based in East Lothian, uses the innovative power of VR as a force for good within communities across Scotland.
RESIDENTS of an Edinburgh hospice facility are the first palliative care patients in Scotland to experience the stunning effects of virtual reality in an exciting new university research project.
Billy set up Viarama so he could focus on creating unique VR experiences that would improve the lives of senior citizens, school children and young people.
The interactive initiative, which can virtually transport patients to locations on the other side of the world, will look at the impact of virtual reality on patients’ health and wellbeing.
Billy is now working in collaboration with Queen Margaret University and St Columba’s Hospice on a research project involving 20 hospice patients.
An initial group of six patients at St Columba’s Hospice benefitted from the transformative effects of VR when they were offered the chance to revisit some of their favourite places or explore a part of the world they had never seen. Using the latest high-tech VR headsets, one individual was transported to Jerusalem, a place he had always dreamed of visiting. In another session, a lady who was 101 years old, was thrilled to revisit her childhood home in Darjeeling and indulge in a trip up the Amazon river for the first time. The experience triggered happy memories with the opportunity to reminisce about old times, as well as encounter new places. The patients also took the chance to immerse themselves in an under sea adventure. Through the use of VR, the patients could explore the a sunken wreck 16
The project will look at the potential benefit of VR with a focus on patients’ mood, pain and stress levels, as well as overall wellbeing. Dr Erna Haraldsdottir is senior lecturer in nursing at Queen Margaret University and director of education and research at St Columba Hospice. Having observed patients at the taster session she is now keen to explore the use of VR in palliative care. with beautiful fish circling overhead whilst an enormous whale passed by. The colours were so vivid and the experience so joyful, that one resident joked that it was almost worth being admitted to the hospice to have the experience. The initial visual reality taster was run by Billy Agnew, founder of Viarama, the world’s first virtual reality social enterprise.
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She said: “The patients loved it. They were thrilled by the experience. One family member said it was the first time her mother had smiled in months. It was wonderful to see the immediate impact on individuals. “The VR experience essentially transports individuals to another world, removing them from the reality of their situation and absorbing them in a positive experience. “It’s liberating and exciting for them
to revisit a place that sparks happy memories or to indulge in an activity that once exhilarated them. It is exciting now to progress to a research project to gather the evidence of potential benefit. “There is little evidence of VR being used in palliative care with no published research which identifies its potential in this important area of healthcare. “We now need to establish the facts with more in-depth research to understand the immediate effects and the possible longer term impact on wellbeing and physical health. “We are particularly keen to learn if VR sessions have the potential to alleviate symptoms in patients receiving palliative care, such as pain and anxiety levels.” For five out of the six patients who experienced the taster session, choosing to visit their ‘happy’ place or doing a favourite activity was a very positive experience. However, one patient was tearful at the end of the session, following the realisation that she would never be able to revisit her favourite place in person ever again. Despite this, the following day, she reported that the experience had helped her come to terms with her current situation as she approached end of life.