New device developed for on-the-go treatment of back pain
SINGAPORE — A new device, which can be worn like a backpack, has been developed, opening up the possibility of traction therapy on the go — rather than on the treatment table — for those with back pain.
SINGAPORE — A new device, which can be worn like a backpack, has been developed, opening up the possibility of traction therapy on the go — rather than on the treatment table — for those with back pain.
Traction is commonly used for back ailments like herniated discs and muscle spasms. Patients have to lie down so that force can be applied to the spine to pull the vertebrae slightly apart to relieve pressure on discs, ligaments and nerves.
The new device was developed by SingHealth and Singapore General Hospital (SGH) physiotherapists, orthopedic surgeons, as well as Ngee Ann Polytechnic engineers, and has been found to be as effective as conventional lumbar traction therapy, according to a year-long pilot study that concluded in December last year.
The boon, obviously, is that patients can “wear it in a functional position so that they can continue their activities,” said SGH senior physiotherapist Jennifer Liaw.
SingHealth physiotherapist Hanniel Lim added: “They are actually walking and doing things over that 20-minute interval pain-free or with a decreased level of pain, compared to just lying in bed and not doing anything.”
One patient who had participated in the pilot study for six weeks, Madam Poh Pang, 60, said she could do household chores when she wore the device.
“It doesn’t feel heavy to me at all, compared to how much pain relief there is. I don’t even need to waste so time coming down to the hospital.”
According to the team, the device, when used two or three times a day, potentially removes the need for patients to travel to the hospital for physiotherapy sessions, depending on their condition.
Currently, patients can also choose to buy a traction device for use at home that costs S$200. But to use that, they still have to manually attach a 10 kg water bag to the device.
The current working prototype, which took three years and S$5,000 in material costs to research and develop, weighs 4 kg. The team are working to improve it for a second prototype before a further round of refinements by a private company. The InnoTechSpine device is targeted for commercialisation and manufacturing by next year.
The device was selected as the top winning project at the SingHealth Allied Health Innovative Practice Award 2013.