GaitBetter: The System for Elderly Fall Prevention

With more than one in three people over the age of 65 having a fall each year, new solutions for elderly fall prevention are needed.

Many falls are not serious, however some end in nasty fractures and others may lead to long term infirmity and even death. 

Researchers have been exploring ways for elderly fall prevention by curbing the physical and cognitive deterioration behind falls. 

They came up with GaitBetter, an innovative and unique system that improves walking abilities and reduces the risk of falling.

We all fall from time to time at home or on the street – a slight stumble or a real fall, get up and continue with the routine of our lives. Unfortunately, this is not the case for millions of seniors.

According to the National Institute of Aging, every year more than 1 in 3 adults over the age of 65 suffer a fall.  For them, any fall could be catastrophic, leading to a limb or pelvic fracture and sometimes even death.

What are the risk factors for falls in old age?

Researchers distinguish between two main risk factors: internal factors related to the person himself and external factors. 

Internal factors that increase the risk of a fall include a person’s poor medical condition (such as chronic illness, medication, etc.), diminished mental state, weak physical condition (such as muscle weakness, imbalance, darkened vision and hearing loss), as well as a previous fall and a fear of falls, which is known as a significant risk factor. 

Exterior factors include environmental causes, such as smooth surfaces, inadequate lighting, torn / folded carpets, loose tiles and various obstacles.

Do exercise and a healthy lifestyle help?

Along with recommendations on how to make the home environment safer, the National Council on Aging (NCOA) recommends that adults aged 65 and over perform periodic vision and hearing tests, as well as adopt a healthy lifestyle that includes proper nutrition and routine exercise to maintain muscle mass, stability and balance. 

These recommendations rely on the aforementioned risk factors and are valuable, but may not be sufficient in themselves.

Studies conducted in recent years have found that alongside the factors mentioned above for elderly fall prevention. There is a close relationship between a person’s cognitive abilities, which are often related to managerial functions (executive function) such as the ability to process information from the environment, attention distribution, motor planning and mental flexibility, and the risk of falls. 

The lower a person’s cognitive abilities, the more prone they are to falls.

At present, existing recommendations for elderly fall prevention do not highlight the decline in managerial functions as a major cause of falls..

Physical-cognitive training for elderly fall prevention 

When the connection between our cognitive abilities and walking quality was established, it sparked ground-breaking research into the subject.

Several years ago a multidisciplinary international team of neurologists, researchers, physiotherapists and rehabilitation specialists, led by leading researchers from Ichilov Hospital in Israel, set about developing a system that combines motor and cognitive training in order to achieve a maximum reduction in the risk of falls.

Called GaitBetter, the fruits of their labor is an innovative and unique system based on motor-cognitive training technology, that  combines treadmill walking with cognitive training by way of a virtual reality supplement.

GaitBetter tackles the factors that directly affect the quality of walking and disrupts them.

During the five years that GaitBetter ‘s technology has been in clinical use, thousands of patients have benefited with a considerable improvement in walking abilities and a significant reduction in the number of falls..

GaitBetter treatment consists of a series of trainings that take place several times a week.

Patients are required to practice motor walking, combined with a virtual simulation projected on a screen in front of them. 

This simulation practices the cognitive elements of walking by placing a variety of virtual obstacles that require the patient to share attention, use work memory, utilize walk planning and make decisions in real time.

During training, a safety harness is employed, allowing the patient to concentrate on the training without fear of falling. 

The system provides the patient with performance feedback, thus enhancing the motor learning process and enabling them to draw conclusions and improve accordingly in real time.

Research-proven efficacy

Studies have highlighted the benefits of GaitBetter and have shown unequivocal results in improving gait and balance indices, alongside a significant reduction in the number of falls among patients. 

Studies indicated a high response of patients to the training program. 

The studies also found great motivation for perseverance and success in the training among patients, who saw it as a playful and enjoyable experience.

Who is the training program for?

GaitBetter’s motor-cognitive training is suitable for adults at risk of falling. 

People who have fallen in the past, who are afraid of falls: people who feel unstable walking, former patients who have undergone hip or knee replacement surgery and patients with a wide range of walking disorders, due to various diseases and health conditions.