HOOP 2.0 seeks to market a solution that provides Parkinson’s patients access to cost-effective physical rehabilitation that they can do at home. The innovation, which includes a wearable product for measuring movement and a remote connection with caregivers, offers a set of training exercises combined with music and auditory cueing to keep patients engaged, so they can easily enjoy the increased benefits of more regular rehabilitation sessions.

Origins

Parkinson’s disease, the second most common neurodegenerative disorder after Alzheimer’s, affects 1% of the world population, and its prevalence is increasing. Physical rehabilitation has a direct impact on the condition of a Parkinson’s patient; but it needs to be done daily, because its effects last 24 hours. Given the difficulty of daily rehab, many patients abandon the treatment. HOOP helps by enabling rehabilitation at home.

Team

LifeSTech is devoted to development and evaluation of the HOOP application throughout the value chain of mobile health. MADoPA’s experts help to create engaging user experiences. RISE AB develops solutions for sustainable growth and competitiveness. FAU MAD lab produced applied research for improving the innovation’s motion recognition algorithms. Genesis Biomed shapes the HOOP 2.0 business plan and supports the fundraising process.

The project

This project seeks to commercialise HOOP 2.0, a complete rehabilitation-at-home system for Parkinson’s patients that uses sensors, a smartphone connection and special exercises.

The system aims to slow the impact that each phase of the disease has on patients’ quality of life, thereby contributing to the maintenance of their capacity and physical abilities. HOOP 2.0 offers a series of motor training exercises which, accompanied with customisable music, allow the user to exercise to their own internal rhythm in the comfort of their home. In addition, it includes a series of cognitive games for the entertainment and training of their cognitive capacity.

HOOP 2.0 seek provides the following advantages:

• Rehabilitation is possible in any place at any time with low costs.
• Patients and therapists keep in touch through an easy communication channel that provides early access to information and facilitates therapy.
• Parkinson patients stay engaged with their rehabilitation therapies with a remote solution designed to increase their adherence to treatment.
• The solution motivates and supports patients to have better knowledge and information for follow-up of their disease.

Impact

HOOP 2.0 promises to have positive impacts on the lives and families of Parkinson’s patients, as bringing therapy home will make daily physical rehabilitation possible, thereby slowing the progress of the disease and also eliminating the necessity of travelling to therapy sessions. The system will also benefit healthcare systems because it will reduce costs of therapy and cut back on gaps and discontinuity in rehabilitation.

Why this is an EIT Health project

This project complies with EIT Health goals because it provides health benefits by making innovative use of digital technology, like a remote connection and wearable sensors.

The project is also in line with the EIT Health Focus Area of “Bringing Care Home” because it is designed to ease rehabilitation by letting patients do it at home. In keeping with the Focus Area of “Care Pathways”, it also promises to slow the progress of Parkinson’s by encouraging daily exercise.