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For people living with MS who are ambulant (can walk), walking is an important form of exercise for health and wellness. Although most people are aware of this, finding the time and motivation to exercise can be a constant battle in busy lives. Additionally, finding ways for clinicians to easily monitor walking patterns and detect changes for patients in clinic can also be challenging. This innovative research hopes to assist people living with MS in both areas.
Dr Pedrini and her team are introducing a new walking-to-music rehabilitation tool called “GotRhythm”, which uses sensor insoles in shoes and links walking activity with music to potentially improve motivation when exercising. The tool also has the capability to measure walking patterns, such as the number of steps taken per minute. The first goal of this study is to compare the GotRhythm walking measurement tool to other established measures of walking. The second goal is to compare walking patterns when listening to motivational music using GotRhythm, against walking patterns when not using the GotRhythm system. The study will also examine levels of fatigue and motivation towards walking using the system. Ultimately, it is hoped that GotRhythm may be further developed into a rehabilitation tool to improve both walking patterns and exercise motivation. This could lead to the development of a program to improve health and wellness and to provide increased enjoyment of exercise specifically for people living with MS.
The COVID-19 pandemic, as well as issues with the sensor insoles to capture the walking data required for this study, have led to pushing out of the study timelines until 2023. After experiencing issues, the sensor insoles have been replaced with a modified new system using a mobile phone, which has proven to be a more reliable measure. The researchers are currently assessing walking and balance measurements whilst participants listen to their own selected motivational music and hope to progress the study significantly during the rest of 2022 and early 2023.
Part of this work was presented at a national conference .
Updated: 31 March 2022
Updated: 19 January, 2021
Laboratory research that investigates scientific theories behind the possible causes, disease progression, ways to diagnose and better treat MS.
Research that builds on fundamental scientific research to develop new therapies, medical procedures or diagnostics and advances it closer to the clinic.
Clinical research is the culmination of fundamental and translational research turning those research discoveries into treatments and interventions for people with MS.
$24,950
3 years
