A Polk County teen says she has the cure to preventing back pain.
- Prerna Ravinder, 14, is an IB student in Bartow
- She designed 'Back Benefactor' to help with back pain
- Prerna says it combats poor sleeping posture
Bartow International Baccalaureate student Prerna Ravinder has invented the 'Back Benefactor.' It's designed to reduce lower back pain by correcting bad sleep posture.
“It reduces the pressure on the spine because it raises the femur and aligns it with the spine,” explained Prerna Ravinder.
The 14-year-old came up with the idea four years ago, when her dad had to sometimes stay home from work due to his menacing back pain.
“I hated seeing him suffer like that," said Prerna. "I wanted to help him out and I started doing research. I found out that poor sleep posture was the primary cause for lower back pain.”
Now, another prototype later, she's created the company Medifactor is working to bring her product to market. Prerna said the Lakeland Chamber of Commerce’s 'Young Entrepreneur Academy' has been a big help.
She won the academy’s regional competition, which awarded her $2,100 to put toward her business.
“I learned how to write a business plan,” said Prerna. “This program was an incredible program and it helped me develop an understanding for how much effort it takes to run a business, and how much effort it takes to create a business. I have a new found respect for entrepreneurs.“
Prerna is working to complete her patent application and get her website up and running by this summer.
One day she hopes to make it a global company but right now, she said she also has to focus on finishing high school and college.
You can reach her company by calling (863) 430-3044.