- Patients with Parkinson's disease often sit on the floor during attacks
- A trial in Yorkshire offers patients special Googles to prevent them from 'freezing'
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Parkinson's patients could soon be fitted with virtual reality (VR) glasses on the NHS to combat symptoms of the degenerative condition.
The incurable disease, which occurs when parts of the brain become damaged, affects mobility, causing patients to struggle to move and experience involuntary shaking.
One of the most common problems causes patients to suddenly stop moving and feel like they are stuck on the ground – known as frostbite. This often happens when reaching a doorway or when getting up.
It's unclear why, but experts think it could be due to the brain having difficulty calculating the change in environment.
Parkinson's patients could soon get virtual reality (VR) glasses on the NHS to combat symptoms of the degenerative condition
Physiotherapists in Yorkshire are now offering Parkinson's patients a headset that provides 'unfreezing' exercises they can master at home (file photo)
This is typically treated with physical therapy sessions that include techniques such as stepping over an imaginary object or marching on the spot before stepping forward.
However, these tricks are not always effective and often require sessions in a clinic to practice – a challenging prospect for patients with limited mobility.
But physiotherapists in Yorkshire are now offering Parkinson's patients headphones, which provide 'unfreezing' exercises they can master at home.
The normal world can be viewed through the glasses, but artificial images are projected onto the screen. In one setting, patients can see a bird floating in front of them. As they walk towards it, the bird moves away. And another shows colored lines on the floor that light up as the user gets closer.
Experts claim the gadget – called a Strolll headset – is so effective that patients who wear it no longer suffer from frostbite.
'Patients are so focused on what they see, such as the lines on the floor, that they don't notice they've entered a new room and don't freeze,' says Karen Hodgson, director of the Hallamshire Physiotherapy Clinic.
'Patients can then take the headset home and practice as much as they want, without the guidance of a physiotherapist. The more they use these methods, the less likely they are to freeze.”
Researchers from the University of Leeds are currently recruiting NHS patients for a trial of the technology.
If this is successful, it could lead to thousands of Parkinson's patients being offered the headsets.
'Freezing is a very unpleasant experience, and patients often feel embarrassed if it happens in public,' adds Ms Hodgson.
'This is not a cure, but it really is a great way to manage the worst symptoms.'