I have been fortunate to observe the progress of this innovation at various points from early in its design through to the current stage.
I am fully supportive of the concept of the S-Press and wholly advocate the need for this technological innovation in clinical practice.
Affordable equipment for rehabilitation in the acute hospital environment is, in my experience, chronically limited.
Specifically, the gap between therapist-led exercise prescription, adjuncts such as ankle weights or Theraband/resistance bands, and “all-singing, all-dancing” equipment for the more dependent patient, such as the Motomed Letto2, has been a long-lasting issue.
Within the Critical Care setting, and following discharge from Critical Care, we encounter a large and diverse mix of individuals requiring intensive rehabilitation following severe illness and injury.
Often effective rehabilitation requires multiple therapy staff, and daily sessions (sometimes multiple) lasting anywhere from 30 to 90 minutes.
A significant limitation to progress is the consolidation between sessions through ineffective exercise provision – whether this be the patient following a bed-based or chair-based exercise programme independently, or assisted by a nurse, therapy-assistant, therapist or family member.
When staffing resource is restricted, rehabilitation quality and frequency drops, making this issue even larger.
Following discharge from Critical Care to a general ward, the gap in rehabilitation provision is further magnified significantly.
A large proportion of rehabilitation in the Critical Care environment is required to occur whilst the patient is in bed.
As such, the range of equipment which can be effectively used to assist strength & conditioning exercise is limited.
Devices such as the Motomed Letto2, which can be used whilst in bed to assist passive, active-assisted and resisted cycling activity are priced on average around £10,000. For AHP staff groups with notorious funding restrictions for rehabilitation equipment, these often makes devices such as this unaffordable.
A device such as the S-Press, simple in what it provides, yet highly sophisticated in design would provide a welcome affordable and accessible solution.
The device would have great applicability in the Critical Care environment and for rehabilitation after discharge from Critical Care whilst a hospital inpatient.
I can see the potential to empower the patient, their family and other staff groups to assist in rehabilitation delivery whilst enabling greater autonomy of exercise outside of structured rehabilitation sessions.
For both large and small Critical Care units around the country who may also be constrained in resources, this may provide a way to increase rehabilitation productivity whilst simultaneously mitigating workload demand.
I would enthusistically support the product developer in pilot/feasibility and clinical trials of this device.
Having reviewed other technologies for NICE Medical Innovation Briefings in the past year, I whole heartedly consider this innovation to potentially be a game-changer for inpatient rehabilitation.
