Live Comfortably - September 26, 2024

Enhancing Mobility and Independence with GaitBetter

By Amanda Ranowsky

Recovering from a fall can be a long and difficult journey. At Goodwin Living, we offer a variety of supports that can make the journey a little easier. Just ask The View Alexandria (TVA) resident Dorothy “Doffie” Crabb.

“I’m glad we moved to The View Alexandria, because earlier this year, I fell in my apartment,” Doffie shared. “I broke my leg and had to have surgery. I needed a lot of help as I recovered.”

After a stint in short-term rehabilitation at Goodwin House Bailey’s Crossroads, Doffie returned to her TVA apartment and began onsite physical therapy with Goodwin Rehabilitation. That’s where she encountered the GaitBetter system, a cutting-edge rehabilitation tool that combines the stability of a harness-supported treadmill with the cognitive engagement of virtual reality (VR).

For Doffie, GaitBetter made the challenge of relearning balance and mobility not only possible but enjoyable. “It’s my favorite!” she recalled enthusiastically.

With GaitBetter, Doffie found a way to safely rebuild her strength and regain confidence in her mobility. But what exactly makes this system so effective? Let’s take a closer look at how GaitBetter works and why it has become a valuable tool for residents like Doffie as they navigate their recovery journey at Goodwin Living.

What is GaitBetter?

GaitBetter is more than just a treadmill. Combining a traditional treadmill with a safety harness and a virtual reality (VR) component, GaitBetter creates a dynamic patient experience. It’s designed to help older adults improve their balance and mobility while engaging their minds.

The system features a camera that tracks a patient’s foot movements and projects them onto a VR screen as they navigate virtual environments, such as a city or park. “As you walk, you step over bars and water, and there’s all sorts of things going on to distract you so can’t concentrate solely on walking,” Doffie shared. This immersive experience not only improves physical coordination but also engages the brain in tasks essential for real-life mobility.

Lia Poynor, Director of Goodwin Rehabilitation at TVA, likes this dual-tasking approach to rehabilitation. “It's more than just focusing on walking," she explained. "We can introduce distractions like asking patients to look for objects on the screen while they walk, replicating real-world environments where they need to multitask. This allows us to work on gait training and balance while simultaneously challenging patients with real-world cognitive tasks.”

How Does GaitBetter Work?

One of the key features of GaitBetter is its harness system, which keeps patients safely supported without lifting their body weight. “It prevents falls but doesn’t take away their body weight, allowing them to feel secure while still working their muscles naturally,” Lia explained.

This added sense of security is particularly important for patients who may have lost confidence in their ability to walk after an injury or surgery. “You’re completely safe,” confirmed Doffie.

GaitBetter is a flexible program that caters to a wide range of patient needs, from those just beginning their rehabilitation journey to more advanced patients looking for a challenge. Sessions are personalized, with therapists adjusting the difficulty level based on the patient’s progress.

“It varies from patient to patient,” Lia shared. “Some sessions might last just a few minutes for beginners, while others can stretch to 20 minutes or more for those further along in their recovery.”

Patients can also tailor their experience, such as by turning off specific distractions. “One of the first times I used GaitBetter, I saw a cat come out on the screen and there was a big meow,” Doffie laughed. “I’m not a cat person! But my therapist said we could take the cats out. Bring in dogs, bicycles, horses, I don’t care! Just not the cats!”

The gamified aspects of GaitBetter, such as scoring and tracking progress, also keep patients engaged. "Patients often ask, ‘Did I score better than last time?’" Lia shared. “We can see their statistics at the end of each session – showing, for example, that they traversed 80% of the obstacles today, this many with the left leg, this many with the right leg. We use these statistics to determine when to advance them to another level, and we can also show them their progress over time. That’s really helpful for us!”

Doffie agreed, appreciating how the system adds variety to her therapy routine. “It's fun and different,” she said. “It’s a change, and I’m glad Goodwin Rehabilitation offers it.”

How GaitBetter Enhances Therapy at Goodwin Living

At Goodwin Living, GaitBetter has quickly become a valuable tool for enhancing rehabilitation outcomes. Introduced in late 2023 after a successful trial at another Goodwin Living campus, Gaitbetter offers a more engaging and dynamic experience compared to traditional rehabilitation methods. “As soon as our therapists here at TVA started using it, we knew it was something we wanted to keep long-term,” Lia said. “It allows us to engage patients in ways that are hard to replicate without the system. You’d have to go to so many different places and settings to practice the movements that GaitBetter offers in one place.”

One of GaitBetter’s biggest advantages is its versatility in treating a wide range of conditions. Studies have shown that virtual reality training led to better results in step and stride length, balance function and mobility in patients with Parkinson’s disease than traditional rehabilitation training. Lia recognized that it can be used for other conditions, too. “GaitBetter offers a lot of research proving its system’s effectiveness with Parkinson’s disease and other neurological disorders, but the system is helpful for many older adults here at TVA, including those recovering from falls like Doffie,” she explained. “It’s a great tool to help improve balance and dynamic reactions, especially in various settings with distractions involved.”

For therapists, GaitBetter also offers more practical benefits, allowing them to focus on guiding the patient while the system manages additional tasks such as tracking movements and providing real-time feedback. This means therapists can spend more time on patient-specific interventions and less time on logistics. "The system facilitates multitasking during sessions,” Lia said, “making it easier for us to create a more immersive and effective therapeutic experience."

Revolutionizing Rehabilitation for Older Adults at Goodwin Living

GaitBetter's success at Goodwin Living shows our dedication to providing high quality, innovative care for older adults. This system gives residents like Doffie the chance to regain their mobility and confidence with a tool that makes the recovery process both effective and fun.

GaitBetter therapy is also available to non-resident patients throughout Northern Virginia through the outpatient services offered by Goodwin Rehabilitation at The View Alexandria, allowing even more individuals to benefit from this cutting-edge approach. “We actually had a patient from the local community who was so interested in trying GaitBetter that he researched rehabilitation groups in the area that offered this system,” Lia said. “And he found us!”

Looking ahead, the future of rehabilitation at Goodwin Living is brighter than ever. With tools like GaitBetter, residents and outpatients can take on challenges in a safe, engaging way that promotes both physical and mental recovery. This thoughtful approach doesn’t just lead to better outcomes; it’s all part of the Goodwin Living mission to support, honor and uplift the lives of older adults. As more people in the community access this innovative therapy, they too can regain their confidence and mobility, enriching their recovery journeys.

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As Marketing & Communications Specialist, Amanda Ranowsky partners with colleagues throughout Goodwin Living to tell our stories and raise brand awareness. From printed collateral to digital marketing, Amanda covers many bases. Before joining GHI, Amanda worked for a small, family-owned business where she gained experience in content marketing. Amanda’s creative expression extends beyond the office. She is an active member of community theater and chorus groups.