Researchers at NUI Galway say new wearable technology could assist mobility for people with Parkinson's disease.
They have developed a small device, worn around the waist, that helps prevent a condition known as Freezing of Gait.
This is described as a feeling of one's feet being stuck to the floor, preventing people from moving forward.
Test results have shown that electrical sensory stimulation provided by the 'cueStim' device can significantly reduce the time it takes for a person with Parkinson's to complete walking tasks.
Galway-based scientists have been working on the project with clinicians from the National Health Service in Scotland and their findings have been published in the Journal of Healthcare Engineering.
As well as assisting mobility, the study also found the device reduced the incidence of movement abnormality sometimes experienced by patients.
Comedian Billy Connolly, who has Parkinson's disease, recently spoke of his fear of being unable to move freely on stage in his documentary Made in Scotland.
He described a sensation of being rooted to the spot, which is a common feature of the disease and which is not improved by existing medication.
The results of the study have been described as very encouraging and trials involving more people are now planned to evaluate how effective and practical the devices could be.
The cueStim system was developed by Dean Sweeney as part of his PhD studies in the Discipline of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at NUI Galway.
