Device to help stop falls 'could save NHS billions'

A new device to help prevent frail people from falling could save the NHS billions of pounds, according to its Kent creators.

Falls are estimated to cost the NHS more than £2.3bn per year and are a major cause of accident-related hospital admissions.

The Shuffler allows safe, pain-free lower limb movement from a chair or the side of a bed, for people who find traditional exercises difficult or painful.

Lee Trainor, the co-inventor of device, said his disabilities caused him to fall two to three times a week, but he had "not now had a fall for 26 months".

Mr Trainor suffers with spinal stenosis, which is a narrowing of the spinal canal that most commonly affects older people.

"I ended up coming up with the idea of moving my legs whilst sitting there watching the TV," he said.

The Shuffler has received support from Innovate UK, the NHS Clinical Entrepreneur Programme, Health Improvement KSS and Sport England.

It has been trialled in homes, care homes and community centres including a six-week trial at the Romney March Community Hub in Kent.

Dr Jim Kelly, a Kent GP with a special interest in musculoskeletal medicine and co-inventor of the device, said: "Many of us lose our muscle mass, it's called sarcopenia, from the age of about 50 onwards - and that's the big reason why a lot of us fall in older age."

Dr Kelly said the device would "allow people who really struggle to do any other kind of traditional exercise to keep moving from the comfort of their sofa".

Stephanie has used the Shuffler for the last six weeks as part of the Romney Marsh Community Hub trial run.

She had a knee replacement 13 years ago and was due for more surgery in the next year.

"I tried it out and found that it was comfortable for me. Since then, I have been reassessed," she said.

"At the moment, I don't need to go for surgery because I've built up the strength around the knee that hopefully will maintain it for a bit longer."

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