BITS Pilani Engineer's Wearable Device Aids Parkinson's Patients, Prevents Falls
Inspired by his grandfather's fall due to Parkinson's disease, Amey Desai, a final-year electronic engineering student at BITS Pilani's Goa campus, developed a groundbreaking wearable device to assist patients with walking and prevent leg-freeze episodes. This innovation, named WALK, has shown promising results in reducing the number, severity, and duration of freezing episodes during trials at the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS) in Bengaluru.
Personal Motivation Leads to Technological Solution
Amey Desai's journey began when his grandfather suffered a hip fracture after a fall, revealing the extent of his Parkinson's disease. "He used to be extremely active just weeks before the fall. But this injury reduced his mobility greatly. A highly sociable person became very withdrawn," Desai recalls. This personal experience highlighted the critical need for better management tools for neurological conditions, where 90% of care occurs at home with non-medical caregivers.
Desai, now based in Mumbai, founded a health tech startup to create a self-management tool that empowers individuals to prevent falls and act as their own guardians. "Neurological conditions are long-term in nature, and there needs to be a solution that enables these individuals to prevent their falls," he emphasizes.
How WALK Works: Combating Freezing of Gait
Parkinson's disease often leads to Freezing of Gait (FOG), a sudden, temporary inability to take steps, making patients feel as if their feet are glued to the floor. This can cause falls as the body's momentum continues forward. Desai's device targets this issue by leveraging neuromuscular physiology research, which shows that external rhythmic cues can restore movement when internal cues fail.
Worn as a band on the legs, WALK collects data and tracks symptoms that may lead to falls. When it detects limb freezing, the device provides rhythmic vibrations or mild electrical stimuli to the leg muscles. These sensory cues "reset" the spinal cord's control, helping maintain uninterrupted movement. Initial results indicate a roughly 50% reduction in gait issues.
NIMHANS Trial Validates Effectiveness
Dr. Pramod Kumar Pal, professor and programme director of the post-doctoral fellowship programme in movement disorders at NIMHANS, confirms the device's efficacy. "WALK significantly reduced the number, severity, and duration of freezing episodes," he states. The trial began with a sample size of 20, with plans for larger studies to further validate the findings.
Dr. Pal notes that while other technological tools like smart watches and multiple sensors exist to track movement, they are often costly, require specialist interpretation, and are not commonly used in India. In contrast, WALK offers a more accessible alternative to complex or invasive neuro-stimulation treatments, though affordability and scalability remain challenges.
Technical Details and User Features
The device operates through sensors that continuously analyse walking patterns in real-time. When irregularities such as hesitation or rhythm changes are detected, the system triggers patterned, gentle vibrations and mild electrical pulses to the thigh muscles. "This stimulation targets the spinal cord, helping it bypass the faulty communication from the brain caused by Parkinson's," Desai explains.
Accompanying the wearable is a mobile app that allows users to:
- Customize settings for personalized therapy
- Track progress over time
- Perform specific exercises to improve mobility
Doctors can remotely monitor walking data and adjust therapy as needed, enhancing the device's utility in home-based care.
The Growing Need for Such Innovations in India
Parkinson's disease affects a significant portion of the Indian population, with prevalence rates varying from 15 to 50 per 100,000 people. The average age of onset in India is around 51 years, nearly a decade younger than in other countries. NIMHANS alone manages approximately 1,000 new patients annually, with follow-ups bringing the total to about 1,500 patients each year.
FOG is observed in up to 50% of Parkinson's patients, increasing to over 60% in advanced stages. These episodes, though brief, can last up to 30 seconds and are triggered by activities like walking, turning, or navigating crowded spaces. Sensory cueing through visual, tactile, or auditory stimuli can help, but wearable devices like WALK offer a proactive solution.
Future Prospects and Regulatory Approvals
Desai obtained regulatory approvals for WALK in July 2024 and has since introduced additional features. "We have now introduced features that allow individuals to measure their risk of fall at home and give personalized physical therapy based on these assessments," he says. This advancement underscores the device's potential to transform home-based care for Parkinson's patients.
As the device moves toward broader adoption, its success highlights the importance of affordable, scalable health tech solutions in addressing chronic neurological conditions. With continued innovation and support, wearables like WALK could significantly improve the quality of life for millions affected by Parkinson's disease in India and beyond.
