Smart Wearable Device (gaitQ): Walk Better Project

Launched by UNIVERSITY OF EXETER · Jun 12, 2023

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

The "Walk Better Project" is a clinical trial studying a smart wearable device called gaitQ, designed to help people with long-term conditions like Parkinson's disease, stroke, multiple sclerosis, osteoporosis, and arthritis improve their walking. The main goal of the study is to see how well the gaitQ device can help these individuals move more easily in their everyday lives. Researchers will collect data on how participants walk both in a lab setting and in real-world situations, looking for ways to make the product better and easier to use.

To participate, individuals must be at least 18 years old and have a long-term condition affecting their movement, such as Parkinson's or other specified conditions. Healthy individuals with no movement issues can also take part. Participants will be asked to walk for at least three minutes and complete some simple questionnaires about their health and mobility. Throughout the study, participants can expect to wear the gaitQ device while their walking patterns are monitored, helping researchers understand how to refine this technology for better mobility support.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• • Eligibility Criteria This research will investigate the impact of the gaitQ product on a sufficiently large cohort of PwP, healthy controls and other potential conditions such as stroke and hip and knee replacements.
• • Inclusion criteria
• • Participants with long-term conditions affecting movement
• • Diagnosis of idiopathic Parkinson's disease (UK Brain Bank Criteria) or other appropriate condition-specific scales \[stroke, multiple sclerosis, arthritis or osteoporosis\]
• • Able to self-report history of daily gait freezing and/or festination for people with PD or gait affected by condition
• • Able to walk unsupported or using an aid for at least 3 minutes and satisfactory completion of the Canadian PARQ and if over 69 used to carry out this level of exercise
• • Adult (+18 years old)
• • Normal or corrected-to-normal vision (Snellen Visual Acuity \> 12/18) or safe to mobilise with support
• • Montreal Cognitive assessment score \>21 or ability to follow 2-stage commands
• • Healthy participants
• • With no long-term conditions affecting movement
• • Able to walk unsupported or using an aid for at least 3 minutes and satisfactory completion of the Canadian PARQ and if over 69 used to carrying out this level of exercise
• • Adult (+18 years old)
• • Normal or corrected-to-normal vision (Snellen Visual Acuity \> 12/18) or safe to mobilise with support
• • Montreal Cognitive assessment score \>21 or ability to follow 2 stage commands 7.1.2 Exclusion criteria
• • Participants with long-term conditions affecting movement
• • Any physical or mental condition affecting the ability to safely participate in this level of activity and capacity to understand testing as demonstrated by ability to safely follow commands and pass the PARQ by the research team.
• • Cognitive impairment affecting the ability to safely participate and follow instructions
• • Any injury or disorder that may affect balance (other than Parkinson's or referring primary condition)
• • Any skin conditions or broken skin in the calf and behind the knee area
• • Deep brain stimulation or pacemaker implants or other implants that may interfere with the measurement system
• • Healthy participants
• • Any physical or mental condition affecting the ability to safely participate in this level of activity and capacity to understand testing as demonstrated by the ability to safely follow commands and pass the PARQ by the research team.
• • Cognitive impairment affecting the ability to safely participate and follow instructions
• • Any injury or disorder that may affect balance (other than Parkinson's or referring primary condition)
• • Any skin conditions or broken skin in the calf and behind the knee area
• • Deep brain stimulation or pacemaker implants or other implants that may interfere with the measurement system