Improving Balance at Home for Older Adults with Parkinson's Disease
Official title: Balance tele-rehabilitation with wearable technology for older adults with Parkinson disease
Funded at Oregon Health & Science University · NIH-11116963 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project explores how wearable technology and remote physical therapy can help older adults with Parkinson's disease improve their balance from home.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Oregon Health & Science University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Portland, United States) |
| Project start | September 20, 2022 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $558,791 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HD107074-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11116963 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are older adults living with Parkinson's disease who are interested in remote balance training and using wearable technology.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who prefer in-person therapy or are unable to use wearable technology or participate in virtual sessions may not find this approach beneficial.
What this research studies
Many older adults with Parkinson's disease face challenges with balance and a higher risk of falls, especially when in-person therapy is difficult. This project aims to make balance rehabilitation more accessible and effective by bringing it into your home using modern technology. We will use special wearable sensors to understand your balance both during exercises and throughout your day. Our goal is to see if these remote assessments are as good as in-person checks and if a guided online physical therapy program can help you improve your balance and reduce falls.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could offer a convenient and effective way for people with Parkinson's disease to receive balance training and reduce fall risk from the comfort of their homes.
How similar studies have gone: While balance training is a known benefit for Parkinson's, this project explores a novel combination of wearable technology and tele-rehabilitation for remote delivery and assessment.
Where this research is happening
-
Oregon Health & Science University
Portland, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: King, Laurie — Oregon Health & Science University
- Study coordinator: King, Laurie
Related research
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.