Project description
Vibrating insoles improve balance in patients
Numerous health problems, mostly connected to ageing like diabetes or Parkinson’s diseases, result in a lack of balance and mobility problems for patients. This loss of balance increases the risk of dangerous falls and injuries for patients leading to hospitalisation, thus negatively impacting the quality of their everyday life. The EU-funded Path Feel project aims to bring to market an innovated insole by the same name that will enable patients to walk safely again. Thanks to vibrational feed-back to the feet, it can improve the balance of the person by over 50 %, returning patient's freedom of mobility.
Objective
An aging population and diseases related to aging (Parkinson’s disease, diabetes, neuropathy) increase feet numbness, balance and mobility issues. Affected people stop feeling the ground properly, which makes them lose balance and increases the risk of falls and injuries, which in turn lead to devastating consequences. Patients and families lose their independence and public healthcare costs are rising as a result – now the European population aged 65+ uses 60% of healthcare resources. One of the ways to reduce the costs of care for the elderly and chronic patients relates to fall prevention.
At Walk With Path we invented Path Feel – an insole that provides vibrational feedback to the feet in real time to help people feel the ground again. It increased the balance and mobility of 92% of users and reduces their risk of falls by 50%. We have proven that it works in number of pre-clinical studies. By bringing mobility back, Path Feel gives more freedom to the patient and the family.
Within the project we will finish our existing prototype, validate it, certify, and introduce it to the market after the project ends.
The elderly population in the EU is projected to increase, reaching 75 million in 2020 and 88 million in 2030. Over 220 million people worldwide suffer from balance and sensory issues, and the global walking aids market is estimated to surpass €1 billion by 2023, growing at an estimated CAGR of 4.3% from 2018 to 2023.
We work with patient organizations and key opinion leaders to introduce the product to the market. We have multiple distribution agreements across the world (EU, Asia, America) and work with global shoe and insole manufacturers. We have already commercialized our first innovative product in the mobility sector – for patients with Parkinson’s disease.
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Funding Scheme
SME-2 - SME instrument phase 2Coordinator
1620 KOBENHAVN V
Denmark
The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.