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2017.
New British Invention to zap driver's backache

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: London, UK June 2017

 

New British invention to zap driver's backache

 

Does your back ache after a long drive? If so, you are amongst the vast majority of us and the chances are you're not sitting or wearing your seatbelt correctly.

Worryingly, new figures suggest that most of us don't wear our seatbelts in the way in which they were designed and safety-tested. A recent independently validated survey revealed that more than 90% of drivers don't sit in the healthiest sitting position and most ‘wear' their seat belts with slack in the belt, compromising safety. Being in a moving vehicle in this ‘slouched' position puts strain on the supportive muscles of the lower back, often leading to back pain.

Several studies have found a link between driving and back problems with people who drive for a living being statistically more likely to suffer. Back pain affects an estimated four out of five UK adults (80%) at some point in life,  costs the NHS more than £1.3 million per day and, together with neck and muscle pain, accounted for over 30 million lost working days in the UK in 2016.

New solution

Now SHOFT, a simple, palm-sized device that takes just two seconds to fit on to your seatbelt, could put an end to those troublesome twinges - welcome news for Britain's 36 million motorists, who spend an average of 10 hours a week behind the wheel.

SHOFT addresses the main cause of backache in drivers by helping to keep the spine aligned with the seat back. It does this by eliminating the slack that naturally creeps into the seatbelt as the journey progresses. When you buckle up, its unique inbuilt ‘brake pad' made of GRIPtene®  engages the lap belt section of the seatbelt, keeping it tensioned across your pelvis for the whole journey. This helps you avoid slipping down in the seat and keeps your spine aligned with the car's seat back, supporting your back muscles and preventing strain.

Besides improving posture, it helps you to sit in the same position that all crash-test dummies are in for car safety tests, and helps to comply with the safety guidelines from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA).

SHOFT has made the finals of the UK road safety charity BRAKE's product safety awards and is anticipated by back specialists and ergonomics experts to significantly improve the health of the millions of Britain's fleet drivers as well as reduce injury and possibly save lives. In addition, expectant mothers have welcomed SHOFT as it stops the lap belt from riding up over the bump, (a big reason pregnant women dont wear seat belts). SHOFT also helps keep children secure in their booster seats avoiding the usual tipping and rocking that every parent knows only too well. SHOFT has also been tested and highly recommended by back experts and gained top 5* reviews from the UK's motoring press including AutoCar and the Sunday Times.

"When your spine is stacked upright and supported by the back of your car seat, your muscles can relax and reduce the compression through your joints and discs. SHOFT stops you sliding down the seat, making a healthy position much easier to maintain - so you are highly likely to benefit from using SHOFT."

Nell Mead, award-winning physiotherapist and clinical director, Victory Health & Performance (co-author of ‘HELP! My Car Is Killing Me').

Price details

SHOFT packs (2 SHOFTs) costs just £24.99 delivered (UK Mainland) and £28.99 worldwide.

More facts about backache

• It's the leading global cause of disability according to the World Health Organization and is higher in western countries where we spend hours sitting down.

• Back pain costs the UK economy £37 million per day.

• Nearly two-thirds of drivers claimed that their daily commute leaves them with neck, back or muscle pain in a 2014 Bupa survey.

• Sitting puts 50% more pressure on your lower back than standing.

• For more on healthier and safer driving, download HELP! My Car Is Killing Me - Top Tips For A Healthier Drive by SHOFT co-inventor Dr Graham Cox and top London physiotherapist Nell Mead (£4.99; Amazon.co.uk)

 

For further information

• Visit shoft.co.uk and Facebook for more info and videos about SHOFT.

• Contact SHOFT co-inventor Dr Graham Cox on 07525 812 906, 0844 858 4366 or email enquiries@SHOFT.co.uk

• Download images here

 Testimonials and interviews from users available (contact details via Graham Cox)

Notes to editors

SHOFT is designed and manufactured in Great Britain by TUTCH Designs Ltd. SHOFT is patented in Europe and USA. The SHOFT concept has been fully crash-tested and demonstrated not to interfere with the safety of the seatbelt. By assisting better posture and keeping slack out of the seatbelt, SHOFT helps the occupant to mimic the crash test set-up as used by EuroNCAP.

SHOFT not only looks and feels good, but it is impregnated with a natural biocide so also helps prevent the spread of common germs.

TUTCH Designs Ltd is a proud sponsor of the UK charity BackCare (www.backcare.org.uk) and WilliamsFund (www.WilliamsFund.co.uk), a children's cancer charity set up by Graham's sister Johanna Dodd after her 4 year-old son died of a rare cancer. Every penny raised goes towards research into children's cancer. The charity has raised over £850,000 to date through the generosity of local businesses and the amazing feats of individuals.

SHOFT is a registered trademark of TUTCH Designs Ltd. © 2016.

 

Inventor Dr Graham Cox

Graham has a PhD in physiology from the Royal Free Hospital School of Medicine, London, and more than 20 years' experience in industry, working in a variety of disease areas including pain and arthritis. He and his father Ronald invented and patented SHOFT from Ronald's house, spending five years perfecting the device, with the help of top experts in design, safety, ergonomics, posture, moulding and intellectual property. Graham is an illustrator, author and kitesurf instructor and is married to Anabel.