Canada’s AGE-WELL network affiliate PhysioBiometrics has introduced Heel2Toe, a wearable device aimed at improving gait in older adults.
The therapeutic device can be attached to the side of a shoe and emits a beep with each good step that starts with a strong heel strike.
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This feature is crucial in reducing the physical stress on muscles and joints, preventing falls, and facilitating easier and more independent mobility for the elderly.
The Heel2Toe device has shown to be advantageous for individuals with neurological or orthopaedic disorders, including Parkinson’s disease patients.
It is touted as the only wearable that offers immediate auditory feedback for each step taken, helping users to walk with a proper heel-first gait.
The concept was developed by PhysioBiometrics president and CEO Dr Nancy Mayo and her co-founders, who are physiotherapists, in collaboration with McGill University’s biomedical engineering department.
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By GlobalDataDr Mayo said that this auditory cue serves as a reward, training the brain to adopt an improved walking pattern.
The device can be used independently at home, equipped with instructional videos, an exercise booklet, and a web-based dashboard that displays walking analytics.
It can also be used under the guidance of a therapist. The device incorporates three inertial measurement units that accurately evaluate walking patterns throughout the entire gait cycle.
A pilot trial involving Parkinson’s patients revealed that those who were trained at home with the device experienced gait improvements against those who only followed exercise recommendations.
The study highlighted walking capacity as the primary outcome, with 13 out of 14 subjects in the Heel2Toe group showing improvement in the walk test of six minutes, while none in the exercise-only group exhibited such progress.
Furthermore, PhysioBiometrics has incorporated the Heel2Toe into its Walk-BEST programme, a combination of in-person group training and at-home practice.
Dr Mayo added: “Heel2Toe is a game-changer for helping older adults age well because when your gait is better, you can walk farther. By intervening early enough to correct poor gait, older adults reduce fall risk, increase physical activity, improve joint and muscle health, and ultimately stay in their homes longer.”
