Debbie Backus is with the Shepherd Center, a rehabilitation hospital located in Atlanta, and is also the president of ACRM, a multidisciplinary organization whose mission is to help improve the lives of people with disabilities, particularly brain and spinal cord injuries. In this episode, she discusses the current technologies used to help patients with movement disabilities, how far the technologies have come, the cost-effectiveness of such technologies, and how those technologies may continue to grow in the future.

Top three takeaways:

1. Organizations such as the Shepherd Center and ACRM serve to help and rehabilitate patients who have suffered injuries resulting in movement disabilities, and research technologies and novel interventions to restore mobility in these patients.
2. Technologies such as FES and exoskeletons that are used by patients with movement disabilities are in their early stages, and are expensive to manufacture.
3. If medical technologies can be shown to present a benefit to patients and their well-being, they may be further developed to improve cost-effectiveness, functionality, and ease of use.

[0:00] Ladan introduces the episode and IFESS, the sponsor

[0:28] Debbie Backus is introduced

[0:44] Debbie talks about the mission of the Shepherd Center, and about the types of patients that the organization cares for

[1:36] Debbie discusses ACRM, the services it offers, and how the organization started

[2:52] Debbie talks about the technology involved in rehab medicine, and how it has grown over the years

[4:11] Debbie talks about the way technology solves problems, and how when designing technologies to solve clinical problems, the problems are not always solved in the best way initially.

[4:52] Debbie discusses certain challenges with technology, such as cost effectiveness. She discusses her own research into the effectiveness of FES cycles, and how certain components may be too expensive for patients to afford.

[5:22] Debbie discusses how if it can be shown how such technology presents a clear benefit to patients, then perhaps more cost-effective options can be developed.

[6:11] Exoskeletons designed for patient mobility are discussed, and they are likened to old-fashioned computers which would take up a whole room. It is discussed how as the technology improves, it will become more practical and economically feasible.

[7:28] Debbie discusses FES bikes, and how once a patient is evaluated and is deemed fit to ride one, they should be able to go to a gym and use one

[7:49] Real bikes are discussed for these patients, rather than stationary ones

[9:38] Debbie discusses her impression with ACRM being involved with rehab week for the first time