Breakthrough in Manual Wheelchair Propulsion

The world's first lever-drive propulsion accessory for manual wheelchairs is now available in the UK. The revolutionary 'NuDrive' system from Pure Global Ltd reduces the force needed to self-propel by up to 40% and greatly increases independence for the user, enabling them to propel themselves further with greater ease, and with less strain on the body.

With NuDrive, the user can propel themselves forwards and backwards, manoeuvre and brake, simply by pushing the levers - there's no need to spin the wheel rims by hand. NuDrive attaches in seconds to almost any manual wheelchair with 24inch metal spoked wheels so there's no need to buy a new chair. http://www.nu-drive.com

Speaking about the design Peter Gage, Chairman of the NHS National Wheelchair Managers' Forum, said: "As time passes we see advances made as small progressions with very few leaps forward. This concept design represents one of those leaps."

Existing clinical research indicates that lever-drives shift the shoulder loading and can reduce shoulder degradation and injury. They can also increase torque transmission and protect wrists and hands. At only £349 NuDrive makes the benefits of lever-drives affordable as it can be attached to an existing chair.

Emily Steward is 18 with Spina Bifida and has this to say: "It is a lot easier to get up slopes with NuDrive, I can sit up straight, I don't have to strain and I can get more power behind the stroke. It helps me keep going for longer."

NuDrive can be used by both long-term and occasional wheelchair users who have some degree of strength in both arms. It is great both indoors and outdoors and can help the user tackle inclines and more difficult or uneven terrains. NuDrive improves posture and reduces strain on the user's shoulders - helping to prevent shoulder injury. The ergonomically designed drive units allow users with arthritic or weak hands to self-propel as it requires no finger of hand dexterity. By removing the need to grip and release the wheel rims, NuDrive eliminates the threat of Repetitive Strain Injury in hands, protects hands from abrasion and maintains cleanliness and hygiene.

The concept is simple, but the technology is cutting edge. NuDrive has been developed for Pure Global by one of the UK's leading product designers, London Associates, in association with the Aspire Centre for Disability Sciences. Wheelchair users with a range of medical conditions and disabilities were involved throughout the research to ensure a high level of medical efficacy.

Pure Global Ltd was established in 2003 by Robert Orford when he was just 20. Robert won the Young Designer of the Year Award in 2002 for his initial prototype and has since raised more than £1million of investment to develop NuDrive.

Speaking about his journey Robert said: "The catalyst that inspired me to take the idea from being an A-Level project into a commercial reality was seeing the impact my design had on my friend Emily Steward. Emily has Spina Bifida and NuDrive gave her so much more independence. The encounter gave me the conviction to take the plunge and devote myself to making the idea a reality."

"I have learned a lot over the past six years and it's been hard work, but I'm truly delighted to be able to make this technology available and both me and the my team hope it will be a real blessing."

Pure Global donated a number of products to charity at the launch event, including Aspire, the Spinal Injuries Association and the Back Up Trust.

Watch a short video of NuDrive in action around London.

About Pure Global Ltd:

Pure Global Ltd is based in Watford in the UK and is a member of the British Healthcare Trades Association. The company only employs qualified physiotherapists as sales clinicians to ensure that customers are properly and ethically advised.

In other Health and Disability News from the UK and Europe

Ireland - One in three children who apply for a disability assessment do not receive it within six months, despite legislation obliging the Government to do so, according to the Fine Gael Spokesperson on Disability Affairs David Stanton. Under the Disability Act 2005, assessments of need for children under five must be completed within six months of the Department receiving the application. However in response to a parliamentary question tabled by Mr Stanton, the Health Service Executive (HSE) said only 548 out of 804 applications were completed within six months.
 
The deficit in Switzerland's disability insurance scheme has remained unchanged for 2007 at SFr1.6 billion ($1.4 billion), with 490,000 people receiving support. The fund paid out almost SFr11.9 billion last year, an increase of 3.9 per cent on 2006. Some 20,000 more people qualified for some level of assistance. The latest figures released by the Federal Statistics Office show that 40,000 monthly benefit recipients live abroad. Some SFr6.5 billion was spent on fixed payments, on average SFr1,767 per person per month. The rest went on workforce re-integration schemes, unemployment assistance and daily stipends. Men are more likely to receive disability benefit than women, with one in five men already qualifying by retirement age. The rate for the whole population is 5.3 per cent, compared to 3.2 per cent in 1992.

Former social worker Jonathan Shaw has been appointed as the new minister for disabled people, replacing Anne McGuire, who has left the government. Shaw, who joins the Department for Work and Pensions from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, used to work as a social worker for Kent Council. He qualified in 1990, having previously worked as a care assistant for adults with learning disabilities, and during his time at Kent he worked in child protection, fostering, adoption and leaving care services.

Former television presenter Tim Arnold, 47, is threatening to sue Tesco for disability discrimination because he was not allowed to pay for food using a credit card signature. He claims staff at the firm's Metro store in Elephant and Castle, south London, did not believe in his disability. Mr Arnold, the first solo news presenter on Sky News and a former BBC Northern Ireland reporter, has an inherited condition called tuberous sclerosis or number dyslexia, which makes it difficult for him to remember Pin numbers under pressure. Tesco accused of disability discrimination over right to sign for goods

The director of public prosecutions, Sir Ken Macdonald, has severely criticised the police and courts for failing to deal with hate crimes perpetrated against disabled people. In a speech this week, Macdonald, who is head of the Crown Prosecution Service, said a “vast” amount of disability hate crime was not being picked up by the criminal justice system. He also slammed prosecutors for not pushing for tougher sentences on those found guilty of assault or harassment against a disabled person.

Today on World Sight Day leading experts aim to raise awareness of the eye disease glaucoma. It is estimated that there are currently up to 500,000 people in England and Wales who are at risk of losing their sight due to undiagnosed glaucoma despite the condition being the leading cause of preventable blindness in the UK. Glaucoma is the name for a group of eye diseases that cause damage to the optic nerve. In most cases, this damage is caused by increased pressure inside the eye. Whereas most people are aware of the importance of checking their blood pressure, awareness around the importance of eye pressure is low. A survey supported by Pfizer Ltd. reveals that UK adults are more likely to visit their GP and dentist than they are their optician, with less than half of Brits having had their eyes tested during the last five to ten years, and 1 in 5 would only visit an optician when a problem is obvious. Further research also suggests that despite this apathy nearly twice as many Britons feared going blind more than having a heart attack or dying prematurely.

More cancer patients could die this winter because soaring energy costs have left them unable to pay their bills, a leading charity warned last night. The UK’s biggest energy suppliers have all increased their prices twice this year – plunging more than half of Scottish homes into fuel poverty. The rises, blamed on the high wholesale coast of gas, have made 2008 the worst year yet for consumers. Rising fuel bills could mean more die of cancer

TWO dedicated runners smashing their target times when they took part in a world-famous half marathon, raising more than £1,000 for charity. Allan Green, 29, from Northop Hall and Chris Callaghan, 31, from Buckley put on their running shoes on Sunday to cross the Great North Run finishing line in just one hour and 44 minutes and one hour and 49 minutes respectively. Leonard Cheshire Disability has a number of places in running events around the country. To take part, contact the events team on 0870 420 4301 or email events@LC Disability.org.

A film about racism in Liverpool is to be made by a group of local teenagers following a decision made on a residential weekend in Derbyshire. A grant of £5,470 has been given to a group of teenagers from the Topspin Table Tennis Club who will make a film about racism in Liverpool, providing a means to become educated in many social areas and develop new skills. It is planned that the film will be ready for broadcast in March 2009. A further grant of £9,508 will allow Merseyside Society for Deaf People to employ two youth workers with British Sign Language skills to deliver youth club sessions three nights a week in West Derby for youngsters with hearing difficulties.

Coming Events:

Disabled youngsters aged eight to 13 are invited to join a new disability badminton club which is starting this week at the Stoke Mandeville stadium on Wednesdays (5-6pm). Secretary Kirsty Jarvis said: “Basically  the plan is to have a good time but we will also offer coaching. We can cater for pretty much any disability. “We want to offer something to disabled youngsters and also get the family involved – parents and siblings can come along as well.” Further details from Kirsty at kirst.jarvis@yahoo.co.uk or phone 07773 325588

A concert in Roundhay this weekend will hit the high notes in support of Sylvia Wright, a former Leeds nurse who works with the poor and disabled in India. The event at Lidgett Park Methodist Church features a mixture of favourite songs from the shows and classical duets performed by the Cardinal Heenan Madrigal Group, a group of students at the Meanwood high school, conducted by Sally Barnes, and two guest sopranos, Angela Good - herself a former pupil at Cardinal Heenan - and Helen McDonagh. The concert starts at 7.30pm and refreshments will be available during the interval. Tickets are £10 (£7.50 concessions) from the box office on (01943) 851431 or (0113) 2675735.

Click Here to add a NEW comment - You can also reply to questions about this article.
If approved your comment will be included here, please bookmark this page for possible answers.