Jaipur Belt, boon for people with back pain

Now people can work normally despite having back pain with the help of the “Jaipur Belt”, a lightweight, protective and therapeutic device that supports the backbone.

Ganesh Ram Jangir, an engineer, who developed the Jaipur Belt, says that he got the idea while working with his parents in the agricultural field owned by his family in Rajasthan’s Nagaur.

“By evening I used to have a back pain and when I asked my parents and they told that back pain was common when you work in fields throughout the day,” he says.

“I spoke to other farmers and found that they have been living with back pain for years. I felt I should do something for them and while studying engineering I started working on the device.”

“I developed the belt and kept upgrading it and then I met Dr Anil Jain of Santokba Durlabhji Hospital in Jaipur, who further modified the device by reducing the weight and replacing metal parts with low-weight thermoplastics and soft material cover that was cosmetically more acceptable by patients,” he says.

Jain, who heads the Dr PK Sethi Rehabilitation Centre at the hospital, says the improved version of the Jaipur Belt with a spinal brace is ready for extensive clinical trials.

“Based on the results of the clinical trials, the belt will be further modified, manufactured commercially and marketed in India and abroad.”

The modified Jaipur Belt, weighing between 1.5 and 1.7kg will be available for Rs 2300-2500, while the premium version being made for people in the US will be available for Rs 5000-6000, he says.

Jangir, who has patented the Jaipur Belt, says the modified and improved device will help people who work in the manufacturing, construction and other labour-intensive industrial and agricultural sectors.

“The initial trial has proved it works well for the people who have to bend down, pick heavy items frequently or having spinal pain or problems. It will also be useful for people who have prolonged sitting or standing jobs,” he says.

Jagir further says that the idea and concept of the Jaipur Belt has been supported by the National Innovation Foundation, Ahmadabad, and selected by the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, for the fellowship award.

The union department of science and technology has provided fund for the upgradation of the concept and product in association with Dr PK Sethi Rehabilitation Centre, Jaipur.

The device was further technically upgraded and selected by the US-India Science and Technology Endowment Fund.