Steering Group - Lab Visit

In the 'Parkinson Vibrating Socks' project, we are working on the development and evaluation of “vibrating socks”—a cueing system for people with Parkinson’s disease who experience “freezing of gait” (FOG) or sudden halts while walking. These socks are designed to assist people with Parkinson’s in walking and to reduce freezing episodes in everyday life.

For this project, we closely collaborate with a steering committee comprising people with Parkinson’s who experience FOG, a physical therapist, and neurologists. The steering committee advises us on making the cueing system as effective as possible and tailoring it to the needs and preferences of the users. Their input is invaluable and ensures that the socks are both effective and practically usable in daily life.

In monthly online meetings with the steering committee, we discuss the design of the socks as well as the technical and practical requirements they must meet. The committee also contributes ideas on research design and the questionnaires we use to evaluate both the effectiveness and user-friendliness of the socks.

In September, three members of the steering committee visited our research facilities at the University of Twente and the University of Münster. During this week, they were the first participants to go through the experimental protocols and could try out the first prototype of the socks. This was not only a valuable test but also a great opportunity to meet each other in person.

At the University of Münster’s 'Neuromotor behavior and exercise' department, the steering committee visited the Virtual Reality Lab, specifically the Gait Real-Time Analysis Interactive Lab (GRAIL). Following a pleasant outdoor lunch and a tour of the research facilities, the committee members had the chance to test several scenarios. One of these was a hospital setting designed to simulate specific triggers for freezing episodes, such as passing through automatic doors or encountering unexpected obstacles just beyond the doors in the passage.

The committee was generally impressed with the experimental setup for the evaluations in the project’s first phase and appreciated the careful execution of the design. They also provided constructive feedback on the triggers used and actively participated in discussions about possible adjustments and expansions to the scenarios to more reliably elicit FOG episodes. Additional scenarios were discussed, such as a city environment currently in development, which will incorporate more everyday challenges.

At the University of Twente, three members of the steering committee visited the eHealth House, a lab that simulates a home setting with a functional kitchen, living room, and bedroom. Here, we can simulate daily life as closely as possible, using various sensors to measure movement, heart rate, and eye movements as participants perform everyday tasks, both with and without the vibrating socks.

After a group lunch and a tour of the eHealth House, we attached all the sensors to one of the steering committee members, who then went through the research protocol. They performed various daily tasks and walked a route through the eHealth House, encountering challenges that often trigger FOG episodes, such as walking through doorways, making turns, and navigating narrow passages. Several dual tasks were carried out during the walk.

The steering committee’s feedback on this day was especially valuable. They were very enthusiastic about the vibrating socks and gave us helpful tips to improve the research protocols. For example, some dual tasks were too complex, and a few instructions needed clarification. They also provided practical advice to request that participants wear comfortable clothing and shoes during the experiments, making it easier to attach sensors. Thanks to this feedback, we can further optimize the protocols to ensure that the research goes as smoothly as possible for everyone involved.

We are incredibly grateful for the involvement and enthusiasm of the steering committee. Their dedication and valuable insights are helping us make the vibrating socks not only technologically advanced but also genuinely aligned with the needs and usability for people with Parkinson’s. We look forward to continuing this collaboration and to the next steps in developing the vibrating socks.