MedPark Hospital joined hands with Chulalongkorn Centre of Excellence for Parkinson's Disease & Related Disorders, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, on 26 October 2021 to provide Thai-developed laser-pointer walking sticks for Parkinson patients.
The cooperation was announced at the “Thai Innovation: laser-pointer walking sticks for Parkinson patients” event held at the Forum, M Floor, MedPark Hospital.
Led by Prof. Dr. Roongroj Bhidayasiri, Developer and Head of Neurology Clinic, and Dr. Urairat Siriwatvejakul, Head of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, MedPark Hospital, the launch presented information on the recovery process of Parkinson patients, with particular reference to walking difficulties and apparatus usage. Distributed walking sticks are sponsored fully by Red Cross Fundraising and the Department of Older Persons (DOP).
Dr. Pongpat Patanavanich, Managing Director, MedPark Hospital, stated: “Realising that it is possible to improve patients’ quality of life is key, and we work to ensure they have access to the equipment they need. Designed and developed by Thais, these walking sticks help patients function more conveniently every day. Parkinson’s disease requires great attention and care for recovery and MedPark Hospital hopes that all this will benefit patients and their families, both here today and for the future.”
Parkinson’s disease is a degenerative, progressive disorder that affects nerve cells in deep areas of the brain. It is more commonly found in older persons. Approximately 7-10 million people are living with or experiencing the symptoms of the disease worldwide. A survey by the Thai Red Cross Society found that 435 out of 100,000 people may develop the disease. Especially, 1% of people with Parkinson’s disorder are over 60 years old. This group is more inclined to experience symptoms like freezing gait manifested in difficulty walking as well as physical imbalance that can easily lead to accidents. The laser-pointer walking sticks have been specially developed to mitigate these occurrences with the aid of green lasers that provide visual cues.
Prof. Dr. Roongroj Bhidayasiri continued, “To-date, over 2,000 walking sticks have been handed to patients in Bangkok Metropolitan Region through public organisations and participating foundations. Recovery aside, it is just as important to know that if diagnosed and treated early enough, patients can drastically slow development of Parkinson’s symptoms. Effective treatments include patient-centred multi-disciplinary care, physical therapy, speech therapy, sleep hygiene and meditation.
Dr. Urairat Siriwatvejakul provided more insight into Parkinson mobility issues: “Mobility issues in people living with the Parkinson’s disorder can be mitigated with effective physical therapy techniques involving releasing muscle tension and stiffness, which ultimately improves the patient’s physical balance. Drawing lines on the floor, pacing after sounds, and using visual cues from the laser-pointer canes are also helpful, especially when learned under expert supervision and instruction. Once these recovery techniques are ingrained, patients have confidence in carrying on with their treatment by themselves at home.”
Parkinson patients experiencing physical difficulty and having problems accessing proper treatment may contact Neurology Clinic, MedPark Hospital at 0-2090-3114, at no charge. Medical records of Parkinson’s disorder or neuro-related disorders, including Cerebrovascular disease, Hydrocephalus, Dementia resulting in similar physical issues, along with consent for further medical history access to help with the treatment are required.