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technology
Dr Matthew Brodie and the new app Picture : Supplied
Stepping up
A new app helps people with Parkinson ’ s to walk better
By Arshmah Jamal
The University of NSW ( UNSW ) has launched a new app to help people with Parkinson ’ s disease learn to walk better and for longer .
Walking Tall was released in August by a team of UNSW biomedical engineers , led by Dr Matthew Brodie , in hopes of helping people with Parkinson ’ s with their gait .
“ Those who live with Parkinson ’ s disease have to think about every single step they take ,” Dr Brodie said .
“ We asked them how much mental effort it takes for them to walk , and often they would say 100 per cent .”
“ This app can give people confidence and also a sense of achievement that they can be empowered and do something for themselves to help their own condition .”
At present , around 150,000 Australians have Parkinson ’ s disease , with 38 new cases being diagnosed every day .
An estimated eight per cent of the aged-care population have Parkinson ’ s . People with Parkinson ’ s disease frequently find their gait affected , have diminished coordination , and significantly reduced step length .
This gait dysfunction also leads to falls in around 70 per cent of those .
Dr Brodie said it was important for the team to listen to individuals with Parkinson ’ s during the development to make sure it was designed to help them .
“ This app is co-designed by people with Parkinson ’ s , for people with Parkinson ’ s ,” Dr Brodie told Aged Care Insite .
“ The app lowers the barriers for people with Parkinson ’ s to train themselves to walk . We tell them that doing as little as six minutes a day , three days a week , will still help .”
Dr Brodie said the app ’ s use of a metronome helped people to visualise and replaced “ the need to think about walking ”.
“ Sometimes they need to visualise a walking style because often people with Parkinson ’ s suffer from hypokinesia – where their movements are not actually as big as they feel they are .”
“ Walking Tall encouraged them to take exaggerated steps , which will actually be more like regular steps .”
For Walking Tall ’ s future , Dr Brodie said technical issues such as Bluetooth connectivity were first on the list to address before tackling major extensions .
“ I want to help the 10 million people worldwide with Parkinson ’ s Disease walk ,” Dr Brodie said .
“ That is my vision , and today we ’ ve taken a small step in that direction .” ■
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