Researchers from Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and elsewhere have made a significant breakthrough in treating one of the most challenging symptoms of Parkinson’s disease: freezing.
Freezing, a sudden loss of mobility often experienced mid-stride by individuals with Parkinson’s, is a major contributor to falls and loss of independence. This neurodegenerative disorder affects over 9 million people globally.
The innovative solution comes in the form of a soft, wearable robot, designed to assist those living with Parkinson’s. This robotic garment, worn around the hips and thighs, gently pushes the hips as the leg swings, helping to extend the stride of the wearer.
Remarkably, the device completely eliminated freezing in indoor walking trials, enabling the participant to walk faster and further with the garment’s assistance than without it.
Published in Nature Medicine, this research highlights the untapped potential of soft robotics in medical treatment, particularly for debilitating symptoms like those experienced in Parkinson’s disease.
The device could offer a new direction in managing the disease, possibly reducing the need for current treatments like pharmacological, surgical, or behavioral therapies.
The device, developed by Conor Walsh’s Biodesign Lab at SEAS, has roots in assistive technologies previously created for post-stroke gait retraining and other mobility-impacting diseases. It was licensed and commercialized by ReWalk Robotics for previous applications.
The research team, including Terry Ellis from Boston University and Walsh, worked closely with a 73-year-old man with Parkinson’s. Despite surgical and pharmacologic treatments, he experienced more than ten debilitating freezing episodes daily.
The introduction of the robotic garment dramatically improved his mobility and quality of life, allowing him to walk and talk simultaneously without freezing—a rare feat without the device.
The garment operates through cable-driven actuators and sensors that align with the wearer’s waist and thighs.
Algorithms process motion data from the sensors, estimating the gait phase and generating assistive forces that work in sync with muscle movement.
The participant reported significant improvements, noting longer strides and reduced foot dragging when the suit was activated.
The team values the feedback and participation of their study subjects, acknowledging the challenges mobility issues pose even for laboratory visits.
Beyond its immediate impact on mobility, the device also offers a new avenue for understanding the mechanisms behind gait freezing in Parkinson’s, which remains poorly understood.
The findings suggest that restoring near-normal biomechanics can influence gait control, offering a ‘bottom-up’ approach to treating this symptom.
This study opens a promising pathway for enhancing the lives of those living with Parkinson’s disease, offering hope for improved mobility and independence.
It also paves the way for further research into the potential of soft robotic technologies in treating neurodegenerative disorders.
If you care about Parkinson’s disease, please read studies about Vitamin E that may help prevent Parkinson’s disease, and Vitamin D could benefit people with Parkinson’s disease.
For more information about brain health, please see recent studies about new way to treat Parkinson’s disease, and results showing COVID-19 may be linked to Parkinson’s disease.
The research findings can be found in Nature Medicine.
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