he discussion about GONDOLA is back on Telecolor (channel 18 on digital terrestrial), during the Health Laboratory broadcast.
In this episode, the focus was on Parkinson’s rehabilitation with Dr. Stefano Tassin, the creator of GONDOLA, and Dr. Maurizio Gilardi, a physiotherapist and head of the HISO center in Milan.
Initially, there was a brief discussion about this debilitating condition and how age is continuously and alarmingly a factor.
Parkinson’s Disease and Its Effects
Parkinson’s disease affects neurons involved in the production and management of dopamine, a neurotransmitter involved in movement. This leads the body to “conserve” energy, prioritizing vital movements such as breathing and swallowing over others like walking.
These disturbances significantly impact the lives of patients, both in daily activities and social interactions (often patients feel ashamed or have difficulty being around others due to their symptoms), as well as in their work life (symptoms may prevent patients from performing their tasks adequately, leading them to give up working), and their families who care for the individual with Parkinson’s.
“Parkinson’s is a disease that doesn’t take years off life but life off years.”
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How GONDOLA Device Works
The treatment involves stimulating two key points to reactivate this type of movement:
- The big toe: the furthest point from the body, which helps in relearning our spatial extent;
- The base of the first metatarsal, the sesamoid: which is crucial for initiating our step, as the first thing we do when walking is abduct the big toe. However, this movement is entirely absent in patients with Parkinson’s.
Thus, stimulating these two points allows for the reintroduction of two fundamental pieces of information for movement: our length and the pad of the walk.
The therapy provided by GONDOLA activates a very deep motor area where medication often cannot reach.
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GONDOLA and Rehabilitation Therapy
The benefits obtained from GONDOLA also have a very positive impact on rehabilitation. Dr. Gilardi explains how his work has changed since his patients started using GONDOLA.
Previously, the therapy hour was much less effective and focused on symptom management caused by Parkinson’s: in the first half-hour, they often focused on trying to relieve the patient’s rigidity, then moved on to finding strategies to manage the symptoms. Now, they can carry out active therapy and see positive and progressive results.
“The most beautiful thing patients tell us is: ‘I don’t feel like I have Parkinson’s.’”
Thanks to GONDOLA, Patients’ Quality of Life Improves Significantly
A special guest of the episode was a Parkinson’s patient accompanied by his granddaughter Maria Luisa, 74-year-old Victor Quadra, who has had the diagnosis for 8 years. He moved to Italy from Mexico to be closer to his daughter and has been using GONDOLA for 2 years with excellent results.
Dr. Gilardi recounts:
“Due to Parkinson’s, Mr. Victor had to stop taking his little dog for walks, but since starting GONDOLA alongside good rehabilitation, he has been able to take him out again.”
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