S-Press

Problem

Physical deconditioning begins within 2 days of hospital admission, and people can experience between 12% and 20% loss of muscle strength in the first 10 days in hospital. This can be catastrophic for particularly elderly patients and can cause significant physical and functional set-backs, which can often delay or prevent their discharge home.

One in six patients are delayed in hospital and 22% of these delays are due to slow physical recovery. Many more patients now are complex with multiple co-morbidities and can end up being in hospital a long time.

The idea for the S-Press came from frustration of seeing these patients not progressing and not having the appropriate equipment to treat them effectively.

Solution

The S-Press is a gym equivalent rehabilitation device that is easy to use, safe, comfortable, engaging, and effective for targeting the sit to stand leg muscles and can be used by immobile patients either on their bed or in their chair or wheelchair. It is accessible and inclusive and can be used by any patient assessed as appropriate by the physio, even those with heel sores due to the patented pressure relieving leg rest ensuring zero pressure through the heel.

Evidence from the 12 month real world evaluation at Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (NHFT) showed S-Press users gain agency over their rehab; they could see objectively that they are improving, they felt empowered and keen to participate, and had significantly improved psychological well-being.

The evaluation also showed both a physiological change in the muscles targeted with an increase in thigh muscle fibre size of 17% and also vital functional improvement, with average timed five x sit to stand improving by 52%, no adverse events recorded, and the physios and patients subjectively felt they physically recovered and were ready for discharge quicker.

Impact

• The four sites at NHFT involved in the 12 month real-world evaluation continue to use their S-Press devices with patients every week, four years after the clinical trial finished.
• 12 more Trusts have trialled the S-Press and shown clinical need in a huge variety of clinical areas.
• Seven of the 12 sites have ordered or applied for funding for an S-Press following their trial.
• S-Press cost is £2,299, ROI for Trust = four patients home one day early and device is paid for itself.
• Trial showed easy integration into usual care and no disruption has been shown by NHFT of the pathway.