Ishmeet Singh (PT)

Flew in from Cambridge to New Delhi not just across geographies, but across time, memory, and growth to deliver a talk at the International Spine and Spinal Injuries Conference (ISSICON 2024) on a subject that’s long needed deeper conversation:

“Safe, Efficient, and Dignified: Beyond Manual Handling.”

My talk explored the paradox of progress – how, despite the explosion of assistive technologies and evidence-based practices, manual handling remains largely unchanged in many clinical contexts, often dictated by outdated norms and invisible hierarchies.

I shared findings from my qualitative survey on the lived experience of moving and handling among individuals with spinal cord injuries, confronting the physical and emotional toll of being “transferred” like objects rather than supported as human beings. These stories aren’t just data points, they are calls for a more dignity-driven, person-centered, and technology-enabled approach to care.

Huge thanks to Dr. Nishad Kassim and Dr. V. Sri Kumar for chairing the session and for creating space for these vital discussions.

It was deeply grounding to reunite with my spine family — friends, teammates, and mentors from Sri Balaji Action Medical Institute, especially my guide and constant inspiration Dr. H.S. Chhabra. Every time I stand on that ISSICON stage, I carry with me the clinical roots that shaped my values and the vision we’re still building on.

I took the knowledge about Moving and Handling from UK to India. To bridge continents and conversations — that’s the real privilege of this work.

#ISSICON #ISSICON2024 #SpinalCordInjuryRehab #SCI #Research #ManualHandling #DignityInCare #Neurorehabilitation #RehabilitationLeadership