Erlangen-based start-up helps Parkinson's patients with a device on their shoe - therapy possible within weeks instead of months

Created: 01/06/2022, 08:13 AM

Parkinson's sufferers often suffer from gait disorders.

A new program could preserve freedom of movement.

(Symbol picture) © Bernd Thissen / dpa

A start-up from Erlangen is working with several professors to develop a gait analysis program to support patients with Parkinson's disease in therapy.

Erlangen - "Mobile GaitLab" is the name of the innovative product that was developed by the start-up Portabiles Healthcare Technologies and is intended to help Parkinson's patients with therapy support through motion sensors.

This is reported

The company, which was founded in Erlangen * in 2016, would like to use its gait analysis system to document the patient's daily movement by attaching it to the shoes.

Since the gait disorder is the main symptom of Parkinson's disease, conclusions can be drawn based on the quality of the gait.

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Erlangen start-up: a precise analysis of the symptoms is important

"The main goal of therapy is first and foremost to maintain mobility," says Ralph Steidl, founder and CEO of Portabiles HCT.

The symptoms of the gait disorder are individual for each patient, so there are significant fluctuations, which are often difficult to document for the patient.

In order to find the right therapy, it is important for doctors to know when these symptoms occur, "so that they can adjust the time when the medication is taken and the dose individually for the patient," says Steidl, according to

.

Shorter waiting times thanks to digital health

“What previously took six months to nine months can now be implemented within one to two weeks,” says Steidl.

Thanks to telemedicine, which enables doctors to change their therapy based on the data without the patient having to go to the practice.

A visit to the practice is not superfluous, but the patient receives help more quickly with the medication setting.

The digital health offer can help, especially when the specialist staff are overburdened or the patient is afraid of hospital visits.

It is particularly difficult for the chronically ill to access treatment.

Telemedicine enables immediate help - without making unnecessary appointments and at the same time saves costs that would arise, for example, from long journeys, reports

Idea with plenty of lead time

Ralph Steidl had the idea for “Mobile GaitLab” more than twelve years ago. He then carried out a research project in cooperation with Prof. Dr. med. Jochen Klucken, Parkinson's expert at the university clinic, and Prof. Dr. Björn Eskofier through. He found that the symptoms of Parkinson's syndrome can be mapped using gait analysis.

Portabiles HCT has been working with the Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg * and the university hospital since it was founded.

In autumn the company applied for the “Innovator of Tomorrow Award”, which is organized by Sparkasse, EIT Health and Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, and received an award.

Start-ups that have developed an innovative concept or product in the field of digital health could take part.

Three start-ups each were then allowed to present their ideas to well-known representatives from industry, politics and research as part of the World Market Leader Innovation Day and received prize money totaling 20,000 euros.