Breakthrough Wearable Technology for Stroke Rehabilitation Unveiled at UK Conference

LONDON - April 14, 2024 - PRLog -- The University of Hertfordshire UK and Myovolt Limited have joined forces to tackle a significant challenge in the global rehabilitation market. Together, they are developing innovative wearable technology to improve the functional mobility of millions of people living with disabilities caused by neurological conditions such as stroke and cerebral palsy or brain and spinal cord injury.

The collaboration is spearheaded by leading expert  Associate Professor Amit Pujari, a distinguished Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering and recognised as one of the emerging healthcare research leaders by the Academy of Medical Sciences, UK.

The partnership with Myovolt will accelerate the development of next-generation wearable therapeutic devices that provide remote rehabilitation treatment in the home. The technology delivers clinically directed Focal Vibration Therapy via comfortable, ultrathin garments that can be worn on upper and lower limbs. This is a drug-free neuromuscular treatment to reduce muscle spasticity and improve functional movement, helping people perform activities of daily living and retain their independence.

Neurological conditions that cause spasticity are on the rise globally with stroke now impacting over 1.3 million people in the UK alone.

"This technology offers the potential to change the way rehabilitation treatment is delivered over the long term for these disabling conditions' says Prof Pujari.

Dr Pujari's team is currently conducting clinical trials with stroke patients at the pioneering rehabilitation clinic Hobbs Rehabilitation in the UK. Initial results will be presented at the MiNT 24 conference on 15th April at the Royal Society of Medicine in London. This event is a forum for leading researchers in the fields of neurotechnology and rehabilitation therapy.

Clinical trials will be expanded in the UK mid 2024 in partnership with Leeds Teaching Hospitals with a focus on validating the technology and ease of use for patient recovery in the home. In parallel, commercialisation work is being fast-tracked with a target of products in market and available for patient use as early as 2025.

"The aim is to make our wearable therapeutic device the most user-friendly and effective solution for spasticity reduction available" says Dr Dianne Jones of Myovolt. " We believe technology can revolutionize the delivery rehabilitation treatment. By making therapy more accessible to people, the severity of symptoms can be managed more effectively to support their recovery over extended periods."

This innovative technology combines treatment and functional performance measurement enabling clinicians to monitor the progress of recovery and ultimately provide personalised rehabilitation tailored to an individual's needs and daily routines.

About Myovolt
New Zealand-based Myovolt is the pioneer of the world's first wearable technology for recovery, movement and rehabilitation, utilising garment-based focal vibration. Clinically proven to dramatically reduce muscle soreness and stiffness, Myovolt has become an essential recovery tool for high-performance athletes and MSK rehabilitation around the world.  Myovolt is the result of many years of research and development by experts with a track record of designing performance-enhancing technology for elite and Olympic athletes. For more information, visit www.myovolt.com.

About Dr Amit Pujari

Dr. Amit Pujari is a world-leading biomedical engineer and neuroscientist who researches medical device development and neurophysiology. A Senior Lecturer at the University of Hertfordshire, Prof. Pujari was a recipient of the prestigious Royal Academy of Engineering/Leverhulme Trust Research Fellowship and is also a recipient of the Royal Academy Engineering Industrial Fellowship.