Could THIS breakthrough technology help Parkinson’s sufferers walk?

By OLIVIA LERCHE 

Apr 27, 2016

'LASER-GUIDED’ shoes could help save lives by reducing the risk of falling for elderly people and those with neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s disease. 

Experts say the breakthrough technology can prevent people who suffer 'freezing of gait'

Experts say the breakthrough technology can prevent people who suffer from freezing of gait - a sensation where it feels like your feet are glued to the floor - which is one of the main causes of falls.

The shoes, called Path Finder, have a lasers at the front, which project green lines ahead as the person walks. The laser are activated by a sensor in each heel that monitors the user’s walking pattern and pace.

The visual aid has been found to stop freezing of gait and help people to walk more confidently by giving people a path to follow. Developers are hoping the innovative product will give people who with mobility issues greater independence.

The concept is currently being clinically tested in collaboration with a Donders Institute in Holland and the shoes are being tested for effectiveness on patients, their carers and scientific experts.

The Path Finder shoe has won awards for helping people take control of their health

There are 5 million people in the UK living with mobility related issues

Falls currently cost the NHS £2.3 billion yearly and with the number of people over the age of 65 in the UK expected to double to 20 million by 2050 and the prevalence of Parkinson’s disease doubling by 2030, falls will have major impact on healthcare costs in future.

Parkinson’s disease is a condition where part of the brain is damaged over years. Among the symptoms are a tremor or involuntary shaking, slow movement and stiff and inflexible muscles.

But the consequences of falling go far beyond the physical trauma from injury. The psychological consequences can be as disabling as the fall itself, reducing confidence to walk, which can in turn decreasing mobility, reduce activity levels and decreasing independence, all of which decrease the person’s quality of life.

Age UK said one in threee people aged over 65 fall each year

Walk with Path has already scooped a number of awards - and has been praised for helping elderly people or those with neurological conditions.

It has won the AXA the AXA PPP Health Tech & You award in the Independent Living category for its Path Finder shoes.

A spokesman for the company said: “We are honoured to have won the AXA PPP Health Tech & You award in the Independent Living category.

“Taking part in the MedTechSouthEast programme with AXA and Design Council has greatly helped us in moving our design for Path Finder forward. The awards night was a great way to celebrate the conclusion of the programme.”

James Freeston, marketing director, AXA PPP healthcare, said: “These Awards celebrate the very best in health technology innovation, showcasing the high calibre of entries spanning many different areas of healthcare, technology and design.

“The core of the initiative is to empower people to take control of their health while providing innovators with a platform to lead the conversation surrounding health technology.

“We hope the initiative will help to put technology into context for consumers and normalise the integration of innovations into everyday lives, whether at work, at home or at leisure.”

http://www.express.co.uk/life-style/health/664828/Parkinson-s-disease-walking-technology-lasers-shoes-help