If you tuned in to TODAY last December, then Kanwar Bhutani may have been wearing gloves that emit vibrations through his fingertips as part of an experimental new treatment for chronic back pain.
Researchers behind this glove come from Northern New Mexico College and Espanola Valley High School, working under the mentorship of Steve Cox, an engineering professor at NNMC.
Improved Balance
Victorians donned vibrating belts to improve digestion or ease headaches. Since then, researchers have experimented with vibrating platforms and chairs – with mixed success – but Stanford neurosurgery professor Peter Tass is hoping his latest invention, gloves that vibrate all body parts simultaneously, will aid Parkinson’s sufferers by offering rhythmic vibrations which reset nerves affected by the disease, according to Stanford Medicine Magazine. His patients have reported improvements in tremors, balance and walking after wearing these vibrating gloves that emit rhythmic vibrations which seem to reset nerves damaged during progression of Parkinson’s, according to Stanford Medicine Magazine reports.
Kanwar Bhutani, who used to have difficulty walking without using a cane, reports his tremors have completely subsided after just one four-hour session with vibrating gloves. Furthermore, he and his wife have begun dancing and CrossFit exercises together.
Reduced Tremors
Parkinson’s disease (PD) symptoms range from tremor to slowness, stiffness and balance issues; in addition, some individuals may also experience voice and head tremors. Tremor can be an asymmetrical condition that typically manifests itself in the hands, though it can affect other areas such as jaw or legs. Tremor typically appears during restful moments but can increase during activity or when stressed, fatigued, or emotionally exhausted. PD tremors typically result from dopamine building up in the brain and can be made worse by stress, alcohol or caffeine consumption. Levodopa medication is one common way of alleviating tremors; for those who are resistant to other treatments like deep brain stimulation (DBS), focused ultrasound or assistive devices may provide additional relief. For some individuals physical and occupational therapy can also help ease PD-related tremors.
Researchers from Stanford University developed a pair of gloves using vibration to treat Parkinson’s Disease tremors. After participating in a small trial wearing them for several hours daily, patients saw significant reduction in both their tremors and stiffness, even experiencing improvements that enabled them to do things they hadn’t been able to before, such as dancing or even CrossFit workouts!
Vibrating gloves may work by resetting nerves that misfire in people living with Parkinson’s Disease. Beyond reducing tremors, these gloves may also help regain movement and balance. Studies are still ongoing but initial findings appear promising; more testing must be completed with control or placebo groups to fully understand its efficacy.
Recent research published in Frontiers has demonstrated how 100 Hz vibration can induce vibration sense in neurones in the cuneate nucleus of four ET patients and significantly decrease their tremor amplitude. While this was a proof-of-concept study, larger sample sizes are necessary in order to confirm these results and investigate its mechanism of action.
Improved Speech
Studies have demonstrated that those living with Parkinson’s Disease often struggle with their speech, leaving them isolated because they’re unable to effectively communicate. SpeechVive may help remedy this condition by activating the Lombard effect–the tendency for people to speak louder in noisy environments–and helping those overcome hypophonia (the inability to produce sound when speaking aloud).
SpeechVive uses a spectrogram to analyze the acoustics of an individual’s voice, such as pitch, intensity and formants. This provides practitioners with critical insights into how the symptoms of their patients are developing and they can tailor treatment accordingly.
This therapy was featured on the Today Show and has also been highlighted in numerous publications, such as People. This promising new approach may provide hope to those suffering from various disorders – Parkinson’s included.
Increased Mobility
Mobility can be an obstacle for those living with Parkinson’s. The disease progressively interferes with movement, leading to stiffness and tremors in legs and arms as well as difficulty walking and speaking. Although there is no cure, vibration therapy may help ease symptoms; one such treatment involves wearing vibrating gloves that deliver patterns of vibrations; this technique can reset nerves that misfire in Parkinson’s, helping the body relearn normal movements more quickly, Stanford Medicine Magazine reports. Parkinson’s patient Kanwar Bhutani noticed significant improvement after four hours of using vibrating gloves compared with traditional treatment – as noted in his ability to walk and climb stairs more freely!
Jean-Martin Charcot first introduced vibration therapy into neurology during the 19th century when he observed that his patients’ tremors subsided after riding in a vibrating chair. Since then, researchers have explored various vibration devices and therapies with varied results; Stanford University professor Peter Tass claims to have devised an effective form of this treatment that can improve gait and balance among PD patients.
Tass’s vibrating gloves differ significantly from previous iterations of vibration therapy in that they deliver a specific rhythm of stimulation, enabling him to better target brain motor pathways with his therapy sessions. He has also found that pausing between treatments is key in its effectiveness – something missed by earlier versions.
Individuals living with Parkinson’s can gain much from making various lifestyle adjustments, in addition to vibration therapy. Regular exercises like yoga or Tai Chi may strengthen muscles while eating foods rich in whole grains, fruits and vegetables can promote overall wellness and overall health and wellness.