A ‘radical new Biomedical Music project’ has been nominated as a finalist at the South by Southwest (SXSW) – Movement Tracks Project is a collaboration between therapists and musicians to use Biomedical Music solutions to help people with movement disorders walk again, Movement Tracks will highlight the Gait Trainer 3 treadmill system from Biodex Medical Systems at the SXSW Finalist Showcase.
The Center for Music Therapy in Austin, Texas, will feature innovative Gait Training technology from Biodex Medical Systems that merges therapist-informed music with a gait training treadmill system, as well as emerging ‘smart’ wearable technologies to achieve better treatment outcomes for individuals with impaired movement. A key element of this system is the optimum audio quality needed to make the treatment effective.
In his quest for the best, Stephen Bartlett, lead engineer on these special recordings, looked to industry leading brands to make this a reality. Merging Technologies, PMC and Rupert Neve are all providing key components for the project. The recordings are originated in DXD on Merging’s Pyramix and the replay for the patients is from a customised version of Ovation. This can provide the necessary adjustments in tempo and pitch that are essential for this therapy to be tailored to each patient’s condition.
‘We are gratified to see organisations like SXSW bring the needed public attention to the dramatic improvements Biomedical Music brings to individuals with impaired movement,’ says Hope Young, Executive Producer of Movement Tracks, a project of the Center For Music Therapy. ‘Especially those suffering from neurologic diseases like MS, Parkinson’s and Cerebral Palsy.’
The Biodex Gait Trainer 3 is an advanced gait training treadmill that combines audio cueing and visual biofeedback to help prompt correct movement during gait training. The instrumented deck unique to Biodex allows therapists to track various gait parameters and document patient progress. Last year, Movement Tracks Project produced historic recordings using principles of music-based therapy for treatment of movement disorders such as Parkinson’s disease.
These recordings, offered as an optional Music-Assisted Therapy Package with the Gait Trainer, combine with biofeedback to enhance neuroplasticity and drive faster outcomes. This is the first time informed music and biomedical technology have merged to bring this powerful evidence-based treatment to clinics around the world.
‘The results have been spectacular and this is a combination of the fantastic compositions, amazing musicians and the fidelity of the equipment,’ Young adds. ‘Merging Technologies has responded to our exacting requirements to get this project up and running and we will be working together on a practical solution for high-resolution playback in the therapy rooms.’
