7 Comments

Very interesting! One of my earliest symptoms was a dragging in my right foot which caused me to trip over paving stones etc. Anything which would make that foot more alert would be welcome.

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What a fascinating idea Rory. I’m looking forward to hearing how you find the . Falls are devastating for health and confidence.

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This is clever tech and it strikes me there are endless possibilities e.g. other sports, the elderly, rehabilitation after nerve damage, breaks, monitoring other illnesses.

After I read your sub stack I was watching 2 friends, one with kidney disease, the other with cancer, both have a unique gait - I was trying to think how the shoe/tech might help them or support tracking/treatment.

Sometghyto watch for sure.

Have a good Christmas

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That's fascinating Rory. I have not been diagnosed with PD but do have an atypical balance issue with other stuff that doesn't help like a very narrow foot with very high arches. GP has told me he doesn't know what to do with me. Indeed I am constantly being assessed by being told 'walk up and down that corridor' when I'm fine indoors - but not outside. I took the initiative to go to the chiropodist and now have orthotic insoles that have helped. But this shoe sounds interesting and I'd say would help me.

Will look for that update on this.

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That is very cool and you can immediately see other uses. For example, I broke my right leg a few years ago and despite my best efforts, the calf muscles and others in the lower leg are not as big or as strong as the left side.

That means occasionally, I ever so slightly drag my toe and it causes me to trip. That’s fine now, I’m 51 and relatively strong but what about in 20 years? That fine level of degeneration could be critical - it only takes a fraction of mm of change to cause a trip.

Thank you Rory, great story, can’t wait to hear more.

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Thank you. Forwarding to my brother-in-law in Chicago.

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Fascinating, especially when looked at alongside the vibrating glove under R&D under Dr. Tass at Stanford University. I believe that as these technologies evolve, we'll find that the classic Rascals song -- "Good Vibrations" -- was prophetic.

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