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Mentoring for Euriclea research
Irene Vega
The NEUROMARK project (Neuromechanical biomarkers to quantify the severity of Parkinson's disease using wearable sensors) focuses on the analysis of the gait of patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) on various terrains. The main objective of this research is to detect early deterioration markers of this pathology that allow the risk of falls to be detected.
To date, more than 40 people with PD and more than 20 individuals without pathology (control group) have been analysed. Preliminary results show that people with PD with mild to moderate impairment have the ability to adapt to uneven terrain, but in a different way than people without pathology.
The experimental protocol is carried out in the URJC's LAMBECOM laboratory, a space equipped to take measurements and perform analyses of the gait parameters. The tests are carried out on different terrains (flat, uneven and unstable) and two repetitions are carried out, one going and one coming back on foot, including a turn, on each surface.
“The session consists of recording the biomechanical and muscular activity of patients and healthy individuals while they walk, using a three-dimensional movement analysis system (VICON motion system®), inertial sensors, a surface electromyography system (Delsys), and clinical scales,” explains Francisco Molina-Rueda, professor of Physiotherapy and researcher in the LAMBECOM group.
Establishing new forms of evaluation based on objective data improves patient prognosis
The results obtained so far show that people with PD reduce the swing of their upper limbs when walking on unstable ground such as a mat. “This could have some functional repercussions, such as a greater risk of falls in everyday situations that involve instability, since swinging the arms is a movement that gives us stability when we walk,” says Professor Molina-Rueda.
Early detection of this risk will allow for the prevention of falls and, ultimately, will ensure the independence of these people for longer. As the URJC researcher concludes: “We hope that, when the longitudinal study is completed and the data from all joints and muscles are analysed, we will be able to establish a walking pattern for people with PD on different surfaces. This information will allow us to find markers or alterations in the walking pattern to prevent the risk of falls.”
The NEUROMARK project is funded by the Knowledge Generation programme of the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities and is coordinated by the CSIC's Robotics and Automation Centre.
