According to the Israeli Ministry of Health 2019 survey – 1000 Israeli seniors fall every day!
Every 20 minutes a senior die as a direct result of a fall or a fall related health deterioration.
1 in 4 seniors stated that they experienced a fall this year.
45% of falls occur in the house surroundings.
More than 50% of seniors who experienced a fall state that they are afraid to fall again.
Don’t let them fall !
With your tax-deductible donation Igud Halev, the Union of Associations for the Elderly in Israel, will be able to purchase and subsidize GaitBetter motor-cognitive training programs that significantly reduce the risk of falls, preserve trainees’ mobility and independence and improve seniors’ quality of life.
Based on extensive clinical research and a successful pilot conducted at Maccabi Healthcare Services, the Israeli Ministry of Health officially declared in 2022 that GaitBetter’s training program is highly effective in reducing the risk of falls by an impressive 70%.
Individuals who participated in the program reported feeling significantly more confident in their ability to walk and actively engage in outdoor community activities.
In fact, the Israeli startup solution is the only recognized fall prevention training program that is operated by the largest Israeli HMOs, leading private physiotherapy centers and well-known independent living homes in the country.
With your help we can bring this innovative solution to day centers facilities and offer FREE training programs to seniors all over Israel.
Goal
Our objective is to acquire a minimum of 10 GaitBetter training systems and provide 100 free training programs per year in each day care center for a duration of 3 years, with a target of offering 3000 free programs in total.
By working together, we can empower 3000 seniors to maintain their mobility, independence, and confidence, while simultaneously reducing the risk of falls.
This initiative aims to prevent unnecessary hospitalizations, painful rehabilitation or physical impairments that often lead to feelings of loneliness and depression among the elderly population.
The GaitBetter training program
GaitBetter has helped thousands of trainees to restore their independence, self-confidence and improve their quality of life.
This innovative solution provides multiple benefits especially for gait rehabilitation which stems from aging, high risk for falls, functional deterioration, balance issues, Parkinson & MS, stroke survivors, partial spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, post fractures, joint replacement, amputations, soft tissues injuries.
The semi-immersive virtual reality experience combined with any treadmill may prevent up to 80% of falls and provides more effective treatment in a shorter period of time than any other existing modality.
GaitBetter transforms any existing treadmill into a smart, personalized, safe and fun gait training system. Trainees can practice real-life scenarios such as walking on busy city streets, avoiding puddles, walking in low light conditions, and responding to distractions.
These multi-tasking workouts, combined with decision making, memory tasks, and attention exercises, significantly improve dynamic balance, endurance, gait strategies, and cognitive functions.
This leads to fast and sustainable improvements in gait and cognitive skills, increased self-confidence, and reduced risk of falls.
What GaitBetter trainees have to say?
“I would recommend GaitBetter to others…There are so many benefits you get from it and especially for people with Parkinson’s Disease.”
“Every day I’m getting better, every day I increase a little bit and now I’m at 4.4 miles an hour, and 80% range of success so I think that’s pretty good.”
Karen Wise (Parkinson’s, Ohio, USA)
“Before joining the GaitBetter’s Fall Prevention program, I was concerned and afraid of falls and couldn’t leave my home without support. Shortly after I started the program, I felt a great improvement. I feel I have more control in my leg movements, and I can bear more weight on my weak leg. I can walk up and down 3 floors using the stairs and I feel more secure to turn my back backwards while walking. The training keeps me really motivated! Thank you so much.”
M.Z. 78, Raanana, Israel
“I joined the GaitBetter’s Fall Prevention program after suffering several falls that led to a broken nose, shoulder, and wrist. During the training program, I learned to pay attention to my surroundings, how to successfully negotiate obstacles and was able to remember the walking paths.
After just 6 visits, I started to feel more secure and confident. My fear of falling has decreased and I feel my decision making and response time improved. I strongly recommend GaitBetter to everyone who has walking limitations and fear of falling. Keep up the good work!”
J.E. 81. Tel Aviv, Israel
What care professionals say about GaitBetter training program?
“Our patients report gaining confidence in walking outside for the first time after a very long period. The system is very effective in Orthopedic patients, helping to emphasis weight-bearing training. The system helps our patients to see better results quicker.”
Tova Grisero-Ram, Director of outpatient clinic, Maccabi Healthcare Services (Tel -Aviv)
“I see good clinical results in objective measures such as TUG and Berg Balance Scale. My patients report increased confidence while walking outside…. It is not just for fall prevention. Our therapists use GaitBetter also with orthopedic patients during their gait rehab process.”
Yonatan Bendalak, Director of outpatient clinic, Maccabi Healthcare Services (Ashkelon)
“We see good clinical results in vestibular patients that use GaitBetter for vestibular practice while walking.”
Lilach Sofer, Physical Therapist, Maccabi Healthcare Services (Rishon LeZion)
“The system is fun and easy to operate. Our patients simply love this training. We use it for a variety of indications, not just only for fall prevention.”
Ilana Shniderman, PT Manager, Maccabi Healthcare Services (Jerusalem)
“Most of our patients, with different diagnosis and clinical goals, really love to train with GaitBetter.”
David Ben-Elisha. PT, Director of outpatient clinic, Maccabi Healthcare Services (Haifa)
“Everything with GaitBetter is going fantastic. No issues with the equipment and staff continue to use it frequently. Appropriate patients love using it and look forward to their therapy session. Overall, it is an interactive piece of equipment that staff and patients love to use. The set-up time is minimal, and it keeps the patients entertained and gives them something to work towards.”
Blaine Martin, PT, DPT/DOR | Director of Rehab, Functional Pathways
“As a VP of Healthcare, I was seeking to set my facility apart. GaitBetter overwhelmingly and immediately won the approval of our therapists. Our physical, occupational, and speech therapists all enjoyed that it worked to improve not only the physical, but cognitive, limitations experienced by seniors. It quickly became an integral part of the rehabilitation process.”
Rebecca D. DeRousse, MBA, MHA, CHNA
Research
Lancet. 2016
Age-related motor and cognitive deficits increase the risk of falls, one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality. The importance of falls has led to many interventions, but few have aimed to prevent falls by targeting both motor and cognitive functions simultaneously. This Lancet study was designed to test the hypothesis that non-immersive virtual reality (VR) combined with treadmill training would lead to fewer falls than treadmill training alone.
Clinical experience using a 5-week treadmill training program with virtual reality to enhance gait in an ambulatory physical therapy service.
Phys Ther. 2014
Currently, the literature describes safe gait as a complex task that relies on both motor and cognitive resources. The use of virtual reality (VR) to enhance gait during treadmill training has demonstrated positive effects on mobility, balance, and fall risk among elderly people and individuals with neurological disorders. Although this type of training has been described as a viable research tool, it has not been routinely used in clinical practice. In a recent study, VR was used to develop an adjunct training method for physical therapists to use in their clinical setting.
The Use of Virtual Reality Treadmill Training to Increase Dosage and Meet High Intensity Gait Training Goals:
A Case Series
The use of VR appears to be an effective way to increase dosage and achieve target heart rate when working toward goals of HIGT. VR can engage patients, improve buy in and add variability during gait training, which may result in patients working at higher intensities for longer periods of time.
Motor–Cognitive Treadmill Training With Virtual Reality in Parkinson’s Disease: The Effect of Training Duration.
Front Aging Neurosci . 2022 Jan
The study findings indicate that a more extended duration of treadmill training with virtual reality (TT + VR) results in greater improvements in cognitive functions, particularly those that are specifically targeted and engaged within the virtual environment.
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