News | Wednesday, 19th October 2022
RLWC2021: Injury device developed with Manchester Met goes from strength to strength
Top clubs including rugby league champions, St Helens, among users
A device aiming to get sportspeople back to fitness faster, developed with researchers from Manchester Metropolitan University and UCLan, has gone from strength to strength since its launch and is making a real impact in elite sport including rugby league.
The ProMOTION EV1, manufactured by Swellaway Limited, is a portable device that provides controlled cooling, heating and compression without the need for ice or gel packs and can be used at home or on the move.
The device draws on research from Manchester Met and UCLan as part of a Knowledge Transfer Partnership - a collaboration between businesses and universities – and sponsored by Swellaway. That KTP has now been shortlisted for a prestigious Times Higher Education Award for Knowledge Exchange/Transfer Initiative of the Year Award.
This season's Super League Champions, St Helens RLFC, who have praised the research behind the device, have signed up to use the product.
Since May, St Helens have used the ProMOTION EV1 regularly, using its targeted therapy on injured players to help them get back to fitness faster including player Lewis Dodd, who ruptured his Achilles tendon in April.
In a promotional video, the club’s Head Physiotherapist, Nathan Hill, has spoken about how impressed he was with the research behind the product, while Dodd talks about the EV1 has helped his recovery.
Swellaway, backed by former footballer Wayne Rooney, has also signed agreements with other top rugby clubs: Saracens, Warrington Wolves and Bristol Bears and is also working with several others.
The company is broadening its reach and working with professional golfers, such as Ryan Fox and has achieved sales with Premier League and international football clubs.
Athletes benefitting from the device, include Austrian goalkeeper Dan Bachmann and England footballers Toni Duggan and Harry Maguire.
Professor of Physiotherapy at Manchester Met, James Selfe worked on the research and development stage of the product with Professor Jim Richards from UCLan.
He said:”I am very pleased to see that the research we conducted with Swellaway has had a direct impact on the function, design and ultimately success of the product. This in turn is clearly leading to real improvements in the recovery and rehabilitation outcomes of top athletes which, as a physiotherapist, was the key motivation for getting involved in the project.”
The winner of the Times Higher Award will be announced at a ceremony on 17 November.
