Singhealth physiotherapists and Ngee Ann Polytechnic engineers have developed a new device that allows patients to relieve their lower back pain anytime and anywhere.

Usually, patients who from suffer lower back pain attend one-hour physiotherapy sessions in the hospital once or twice a week, to relieve pressure in the lumbar spine, or lower back.

The new mobile lumbar traction device allows patients to be treated wherever they are. It can be worn like a backpack, so patients can walk about with it, instead of lying on a special hard bed in hospital in conventional lumbar traction therapy.

Singapore General Hospital physiotherapists say they see over 200 new patients with lower back pain each week. The team behind the device will be receiving the SingHealth Allied Health Innovative Practice Award on Friday evening. It is currently in talks with a private company to commercialise and manufacture the device.