Making a difference for Parkinson’s patients

Barbara Cullinan – a physiotherapist with 23 years of experience – is Balance Metrix’s newest innovation partner.

Barbs is using the Neurometric Balance Mat to help people living with Parkinson’s disease at The Park – Parkinson’s Wellness Centre on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, where she delivers specialised care and neuroactive exercise programs.

The Park currently has two fully equipped exercise studios and consultation rooms for allied health services. In November 2024 expansion into additional space will include a strength-based gym, small dance or yoga studio and a place to connect after class. “Connection is key to doing well with Parkinson’s disease,” she explains.

“We deliver allied health services to about 120 regular clients,” she says. “Our renowned Parkinson’s Alive neuroactive exercise program is run in group and individual sessions and our clients typically come in 1-3 times per week. The age range is between 50 and 92 years old but the majority of our clients are in their 70s.”

“Our program uses the purposeful practice of functional movement patterns to enhance neural connections. This promotes better balance, functional mobility, independence and improved confidence. We utilise neurorehabilitation and fitness technology designed to train the brain and body to work together more efficiently so that exercise becomes more effective and fun too. With that focus on physical and cognitive health we aim to equip individuals to live their best life.”

The equipment used at The Park has been specifically selected for managing Parkinson’s disease and brain health. Barbs has been using the Neurometric Balance Mat at The Park since February 2024. She says, “I really appreciate the opportunity of being a Balance Metrix innovation partner. We want to go beyond its intended use as an assessment tool, to helping clients explore weight shift in real time so that we can improve postural reactions and reduce the risk of falls.”

Physiotherapist Barbara Cullinan is using the Neurometric Balance Mat at The Park – Parkinson’s Wellness Centre on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast.

Physiotherapy at The Park uses the latest neurological tools designed to train the brain and body to work together more efficiently.

Balance data is instantly available in real time and Barbs and her clients can see body movements on a moving  graph on the computer screen.

With the Neurometric Balance Mat her clients can see how their weight shift changes their balance potential.

To manage symptoms and track progress it is important to have a baseline balance measurement. Barbs uses the mini-BESTest and the Romberg test balance evaluation methods alongside cognitive TUG (Timed Up and Go).

Barbs says the benefit of balance testing with the Neurometric Balance Mat is that as well as giving her a balance measurement to work with the balance data is instantly available and viewable on a computer screen in real time so that clients can see how their weight shift changes their balance potential.

“The client stands on the computerised mat in the normal, semi tandem and tandem stances for 20 seconds per test while their balance data is recorded. It means I can provide a visual assessment of balance in a few minutes, it’s very quick.”

“The key point is that my client and I can both see the moving graph on the screen. That allows us to work together on improving their postural control. To illustrate what I mean, most of our clients are pitched forward over their base of support so they are already ‘falling forward’ during gait. This can lead to hastening of small amplitude steps and freezing of gait. We first need to correct weight shift so that the client’s centre of gravity is over their feet, their base of support, then focus on big steps with a purposeful heel strike. Using technologies like HUR Senso, SMARTfit and the Neurometric Balance Mat gamifies exercise in a way that motivates clients to perform at their best every time.”

“Overall, I’m finding the Neurometric Balance Mat quite motivating for our clients as a training tool. That’s what intrigued me about it. Repetition is essential for learning and neuroplasticity to occur and having a dynamic and innovative tool set to do this in a way that challenges and motivates people is a game changer.”

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