Virtual reality device improves patients gait and balance

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.

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.

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.

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.”