Chaos Rehab

Human behavior is extremely variable and variability is inherent within all biological systems and recently has been linked to the health of biological systems.

As we repeat a task, variations occur in our motor performance and this is hypothesized to provide a healthy flexibility of the heart, brain, and other parts of the body.

Many diseases are associated with a loss of this flexibility.

A healthy brain processes motor commands in a chaotic manner, which allows for dynamic movements such as walking whereas individuals with brain damage suffer from reduced brain processing capabilities and no longer have a dynamic gait.

Traditional rehabilitation treatment and training for individuals with motor disorders like stroke, traumatic brain injury (TBI), or cerebral palsy (CP) includes repetitive exercises of the musculoskeletal system, therapy for spasticity, and treatment that imitates normal movement patterns. With this conventional method, patients are unable to transfer motor functions learned in the clinic to real-life situations, resulting in slower recovery and less-than-adequate gait performance.

Based on the chaos theory, Step of Mind developed a non-invasive system that retrains the brain to process motor commands in a variable manner. The computer-controlled walking sandal creates chaotic perturbations in the patient’s walk, records and analyzes walking patterns, and provides instantaneous feedback to the clinician.

This challenges the patient by introducing variable environments that require an active response and forces the patient to solve motor problems in real time.

The outcome is improved walking balance, posture, and motor behavior; quicker recovery time; and the ability to transfer and retain achievements learned in the clinic to natural environments.

There are two versions in development: a professional rehab version for diagnostic and training purposes, and a basic home version. Studies on children with CP in Israel, Jordan, and the Palestinian Authority has been conducted and the results showed that using a variable motor learning approach significantly improved rehabilitation for children diagnosed with CP.

Another project—Self Mobility Improvement in the Elderly by Counteracting Falls—began in January 2008 in Europe and is scheduled to last for 30 months. The anticipated outcome is an advanced prototype system to improve motor functions and mobility of elderly populations who are at an increased risk of falling. It could also be used for stroke rehab as well as other neuromuscular disorders.