Ending back pain

Strathclyde engineers have created an exercise device which could help put an end to low back pain.

The so-called Orthominder is designed to tackle the root cause of the problem - which affects up to 85 per cent of adults in the UK at some point in their lives - by enabling sufferers to effectively carry out an exercise known as the 'hollowing manoeuvre.'

This simple, painless exercise is regularly recommended to build up muscle endurance, but it needs to be carried out up to 100 times a day to be effective. The Orthominder acts as a discreet reminder, as well as measuring whether the user is performing the manoeuvre correctly. It also allows the user to download data on a PC to review their progress.

Inventor Mojtaba Kamyab at Strathclyde University's National Centre for Prosthetics and Orthotics developed the system in response to concerns that traditional back support braces - widely available over the counter - can actually lead to the wearer doing less exercise, with the back muscles becoming even weaker as a result.