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Sunday, April 26, 2009 Studies Show 3 out of 4 Parkinson's Disease Patients Can Improve Walking and Quality of Life Within 2 Weeks Studies Show 3 out of 4 Parkinson's Disease Patients Can Improve Walking and Quality of Life Within 2 Weeks Newly released virtual reality gait training device shown to improve quality of life for Parkinson's disease and other movement disorders. Haifa, Israel (PRWEB) April 13, 2009 -- Parkinson's disease patients are discovering first-hand that daily exercise with a new virtual reality device, the GaitAid, has a positive effect on their walking ability, minimizing balance problems and freezing, and improving quality of life. The GaitAid offers a drug free, non RX alternative with no side effects. As soon as I tried it my mobility improved tremendously! For the first time in over a year I am already walking without a cane. I am so impressed and so grateful. I was dreading my planned trip out of the country until I received your glasses. I cannot wait to share the miracle with my friends who suffer from PD. Thank you! Gait velocity and stride length were improved in PD patients after training with a visual-and-auditory virtual cueing system, with a marked residual effect. Devices utilizing closed-loop visual feedback system are desirable non-pharmacologic interventions to improve walking in PD. Daniel Neal, a Parkinson's disease patient from Palm Springs, CA., commented after receiving his GaitAid, "As soon as I tried it my mobility improved tremendously! For the first time in over a year I am already walking without a cane. I am so impressed and so grateful. I was dreading my planned trip out of the country until I received your glasses. I cannot wait to share the miracle with my friends who suffer from PD. Thank you!" 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 no risk trial period on his company's website (www.medigait.com). Alberto J. Espay, MD, from the Neuroscience Institute, Department of Neurology, Movement Disorders Center, University of Cincinnati, specializes in research and clinical treatment of movement disorders. After offering the GaitAid to a group of his Parkinson's disease patients to use at home, Dr. Espay states, "Gait velocity and stride length were improved in PD patients after training with a visual-and-auditory virtual cueing system, with a marked residual effect. Devices utilizing closed-loop visual feedback system are desirable non-pharmacologic interventions to improve walking in PD." The easy to use device includes special glasses and earphones which provide sensory feedback in response to the patient's movements. A practice session involves walking with the device for up to twenty minutes with no special training needed. These practice sessions soon start to evoke a lasting improvement for most Parkinson's disease patients. The degree of improvement varies, some patients use the GaitAid only occasionally after a few months while others make a short session a part of their daily routine to keep their results. 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 Disease progression. The device is available for a no risk trial period of 60 days: online www.medigait.com email: support (at) medigait (dot) com or by phone 888-777-9906. Rayilyn Brown Director AZNPF Arizona Chapter National Parkinson Foundation [log in to unmask] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn