Parkinson's Virtual Reality Gait Training Device Improves Quality of Life

Haifa, Israel (PRWEB) January 26, 2009 -- Parkinson's disease and Multiple Sclerosis patients are discovering first-hand that daily exercise with a new virtual reality device, the GaitAid Virtual Walker, has a positive effect on their walking ability, minimizing balance problems and improving quality of life.

GaitAid Virtual Walker

Yoram Baram, a computer science professor and incumbent of the Roy Matas / Winnipeg Chair in Biomedical Engineering at the Technion, Israel Institute of Technology has collaborated with several neurologists specializing in treating Parkinson's disease, Multiple Sclerosis and other movement disorders, in developing and testing a new, non-invasive training device designed to proactively minimize freezing and balance problems during walking. The noticeable physical and mental improvement of patients participating in clinical studies led Baram to bring the GaitAid device to market as a FDA registered medical device and is offering the device for a trial period on his company's website (www.medigait.com).

A Professor of Neurology and Director of the Movement Disorder Clinic of The Rambam Medical Center, Yehudit Aharon, M.D., specializes in the treatment of Parkinson's Disease. "The development of this device has been invaluable to my patients. They have better balance, reduction of freezing and improved confidence," states Dr. Aharon.

Parkinson's and Multiple Sclerosis patients participating in Baram's GaitAid training notice improvement in walking, and maintaining balance. According to a GaitAid device user, "This device gives me the feeling that I am taking control of my illness. I got my confidence back and can actually enjoy going out for a walk without the fear of falling down. But most importantly, my mental state of being is much more positive and I'm more independent."

Professor of Neurology and Director of the Center for Multiple Sclerosis and Brain of the Carmel Medical Center, Ariel Miller, M.D., specializes in the treatment of Multiple Sclerosis. "The results clearly indicate that the device helps patients with MS control their gait. The degree of improvement is proportional to the degree of impairment. The results support the potential role of the device as a rehabilitation modality in MS, and substantiate their specific implementation in efforts to alleviate, improve, and restore mobility in patients with gait disturbances due to neurological disorders in general", states Dr. Miller.

Prof. Baram states, "My biggest joy is when a person using my GaitAid device calls me to say 'Thank you, Yoram; Using the GaitAid has changed my life."

The user-friendly device includes special glasses and earphones which provide sensory feedback of visual images and sounds in response to the patient's movements. Training involves walking with the device for up to twenty minutes. These training sessions evoke a neuroplastic response in the patient's brain, creating new healthy neural circuits which by-pass the disease-damaged areas.

Parkinson's Disease remains a mystery of medical science. For reason's unknown, certain brain cells stop producing a substance called Dopamine, which affects an individual's movement, strength and balance. There is currently no cure, though stem cell research offers future promise.

Emerging scientific evidence confirms that movement lessens neurological deterioration that contributes to Parkinson's and Multiple Sclerosis progression.

The idea for the GaitAid project was sparked 12 years ago while Professor Baram was designing a mechanism for NASA to navigate low-flying helicopters around obstacles. The concept of the design, which Baram later applied to the medical device, is that the optical images of objects help the observer navigate, stabilize and pace movement in space.

A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the GaitAid Virtual Walker will be used to support the research, development and treatment of Parkinson's Disease. The device is available for a trial period of 30 days:

online www.medigait.com
email: support (at) medigait (dot) com
or by phone 888-777-9906.

Pedaling to beat Parkinsons

Research Summary

BACKGROUND: According to neuroscientist Jay Alberts, Ph.D., of the Cleveland Clinic, past animal studies have shown great benefits for exercise in terms of improving Parkinson's disease function. But these positive results haven't been replicated in human studies. Dr. Alberts says, "A lot of human studies haven't shown significant improvements in motor function using the various human interventions, such as weight training or other types of exercise training." But the animal studies used a paradigm called "forced exercise" -- where the animal is forced to exercise at a rate that's faster than its voluntary rate. After taking a group bike ride across Iowa in 2003, Dr. Alberts realized the concept of forced exercise may be the key to bridging the gap between the positive animal studies and the inconclusive human ones.

FORCED EXERCISE: During the Iowa bike ride, Dr. Alberts rode on a tandem bike with a person who had Parkinson's. The patient was forced to pedal much faster than she would have normally -- between 80 and 90 RPMs as opposed to between 50 and 60. Dr. Alberts explains, "In many ways, this tandem was like a type of forced exercise paradigm that was being used in the tandem studies." Then in 2006, Dr. Alberts rode again with another Parkinson's patient. This patient depended on a surgically implanted device called deep brain stimulation to control his symptoms. If the device is turned off, his symptoms return immediately. Dr. Alberts and the patient went on a 50-mile tandem bike ride with the stimulator turned off, and to their delight, the patient had no symptoms. These observations led to Dr. Alberts testing the theory out clinically in the lab.

UNDER STUDY: In his study at the Cleveland Clinic, Dr. Alberts has patients come in over a period of eight weeks, three days a week for a one-hour tandem bike ride session. Results show after the eight weeks, patients have on average a 30-percent improvement in their symptoms. Two weeks after the study is over, patients still have about a 20-percent improvement. Dr. Alberts says with medication patients typically have slightly less improvement. And with deep brain stimulation, patients have between about 30 and 40 percent improvement, which is about the same. But as he points out, "If you stop taking medication, the disease symptoms come back within a few hours, and these often have side effects. And with deep brain stimulation, you turn the stimulator off and the symptoms come back almost immediately." He's then excited by the fact that the symptomatic improvement from tandem exercise is sustained for weeks. He does add that he doesn't see tandem exercise as something that would replace deep brain stimulation but instead could be used as an adjunct.

HOW IT WORKS: Patients are working the lower half of their body -- yet symptoms in their upper half improve. Dr. Alberts says, "That suggests that we're changing the way the brain is actually functioning." He's now trying to figure out what underlying mechanism is responsible for the improvement. He and his colleagues are looking at patients' fMRI brain scans to look for differences before and after the therapy. They suspect that because Parkinson's patients have a decreased neural drive, they may not be able to drive their system sufficiently, and forced exercise augments their central nervous system, leading to biochemical changes and actually helping the disease itself rather than just the symptoms.

ADVANTAGES: As Dr. Alberts explains, forced exercise is "a very simple intervention that doesn't require a lot of fancy equipment, and it doesn't require medications... We all know that exercise is good for you. And if we can improve brain function, to me that's pretty exciting.

Beating Parkinson's

YMCA class helps slow progress of the degenerative brain disease
By KRISTINE WALDEN - GM Today Staff	January 9, 2009

WEST BEND -
Bill Gehl wasn�t about to let a diagnosis of Parkinson�s disease stop from living life on his terms.

Before the slow onset of the disease began eight years ago, Gehl was an active outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting and woodworking.

After observing an exercise class developed by Dr. Teresa M. Steffen at a Milwaukee-area YMCA, the 63-year-old Kewaskum resident asked if one could be offered locally.

"I thought it was a good idea to keep yourself going so you don�t get so stiff, so I suggested she should come up to West Bend," he said.

Using the researched techniques by Steffen, Anne Langenfeld Smith, a physical therapist with Aurora Health Care, physical therapist Beth Dieringer, YMCA personal trainer LuAnne Salmon and Tiffany Larson, an occupational therapist, began the class at YMCA�s Rivershores location in July.

"He�s really the one that helped us identify this as a possibility," said Langenfeld Smith.

For the first half of the hourlong class, the 12 participants work out on treadmills. The second half is spent stretching, with a focus on trunk mobility.

"We are trying to maintain or improve their quality of life and their strength and flexibility," Langenfeld Smith said. "With normal aging, you have muscle atrophy and stiff joints. With Parkinson�s, you have the added stiffness, weakness and lack of mobility. Research is showing that exercise can really slow the effects of Parkinson�s."

The treadmill work - walking both forward and backward - helps participants with muscle memory, said Salmon.

"With Parkinson�s, they tend to shuffle and stoop forward with their posture and freeze," Salmon said. "The treadmill�s continual motion, and the backwards motion, helps with the calves and keeping upright posture. With upright posture, they�re also less likely to fall as much."

The floor exercises help with stretching and balance. Facial muscles are also worked and vocal exercises help with speech.

The class, however, doesn�t just focus on the physical.

"Another great thing about the class is the social aspect," Salmon said. "They�re able to network with other people who are going through what they�re going through. It really helps with their confidence."

So far, Gehl said, the class has done wonders.

"It�s good to get out and go to class," said Gehl. "The benefits of exercise allows me to turn my head further, allowing me to check my blind spot more easily while driving. I also feel more confident with my walking and by balance has improved. It keeps me loose. The more I exercise, the more the symptoms go away. You can walk better, and you�re standing straight up and down now, not hunched over. It allows me to continue with my hobbies. I do woodworking - pens and bowls, a little bit of everything."

The other four class members have also had dramatic results.

"It�s night and day. We did a three-month follow-up and saw 300-percent improvement in some of the areas, with the most improved being gait (or walking) speed," Langenfeld Smith said.

Knowing that he had a part in making that happen means the world to Gehl.

"I�m glad it�s helping others, and I�m sure once the word gets around, there will be more," Gehl said.

At a glance What: Parkinson�s disease special exercise classes. For: For those individuals in all stages of the disease. Where: Kettle Moraine YMCA, Rivershores location on Wednesdays and Fridays from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Cost: $35 per month for YMCA members, $50 per month for community participants. The class is offered year-round and new participants can join at any time. Scholarships are available based on financial need. For more information, contact Beth Dieringer or Anne Langenfeld Smith, Aurora Health Care, at 306-6100. What is Parkinson�s disease? Parkinson�s disease is the second-most common disorder associated with degeneration of the brain. The disease is characterized by a a loss of brain chemical that assists in performing movements in a normal manner. There is no cure, only medications to help slow the progression of the disease. There is no x-ray or blood test to identify Parkinson�s disease. The disease is diagnosed by evaluation of symptoms by a physician. The four main symptoms are: - Tremor, or trembling in hands, arms, legs, jaw and face. - Rigidity or stiffness of the limbs and trunk. - Slowness of movement. - Postural instability or impaired balance and coordination.

This story appeared in The Daily News on January 9, 2009.

Boxing helps knock out Parkinson's

By JEAN ENERSEN / KING-TV

KING-TV's Jean Enersen reports

About one million people in the United States are living with Parkinson's disease.

It ended Muhammad Ali's career.

But now boxing may help Parkinson's patients fight the disease.

It's not your typical boxing class.

"Once you see that glove go on, you're just free, and you just pound away," said Bonnie Cohen.

All the athletes in the class have Parkinson's. Certified personal trainier Craig Marks developed the program to help his late father fight the disease.

"He was able to get up and walk around again. He was able to take care of himself," he said.

Three days per week they come to the gym.

"The goal is constant motion. We don't want to give anybody time to rest if we don't have to," he said.

Bonnie was diagnosed at age 30.

"It's given me more balance and a lot more strength," she said.

Abe Taback says he feels like a new man.

"I notice my balance is a little bit better. I'm walking better," he said.

Studies show exercise can protect the brain from ongoing damage caused by Parkinson's. It also improved balance and coordination.

Elaine Simon got back her energy.

"You know how Rocky climbed those steps and went to the top? That's the way I feel," she said.

The class focuses on boxing, but includes other exercises.

"Our goal is to see if we can try to keep it under control or see if we can slow the progression by doing these different exercises," said Marks.

Another benefit is knowing that they're not alone.

Research shows exercise also helps prevent Parkinson's disease. A Harvard study found that men who exercise at least twice a week when they're younger reduce their risk of Parkinson's by 60 percent.

Currently there's no cure for Parkinson's.

Tennis balls for tremor treatment

Hundreds of patients in the East Midlands are using a supply of free tennis balls to help control the symptoms of Parkinson's disease.

The tennis balls were donated to Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust by the Nottingham Tennis Centre.

Parkinson's disease patients experience a stiffening of the fingers which makes simple everyday tasks difficult.

The tennis balls are used in a series of exercises to help reduce stiffness in the hands and aid tremor reduction.

Stiff palms

Physiotherapist Sandy Gill asked for the donation after she noticed that tennis balls that were no longer bouncy enough were being given away.

Patient Rita Lambert said: "It helps with the stretching of the fingers and with the muscles in your arms. I need to stretch them because they get stiff and I seize up."

Patients are encouraged to roll the tennis balls in the palm of their hands to keep fingers supple and to roll them along the table to stretch out their fingers and help increase manual dexterity and hand-eye co-ordination.

Ms Gill said: "These simple exercises can play a beneficial role in helping Parkinson's patients retain their hand mobility, making everyday tasks easier to perform.

"Having a guaranteed, regular supply of free tennis balls has enabled us to give our patients balls to take home with them so that they can practice their exercises at home.

"It is terrific that something so small can have such huge benefits for our patients."

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/uk_news/england/derbyshire/7809622.stm

Published: 2009/01/03 14:45:39 GMT