FitMi PD: an Affordable Home Therapy Device for Individuals With Parkinson's Disease
Phase: NA
Conditions: Parkinson Disease
Sponsor: Flint Rehabilitation Devices, LLC

FitMi PD: an affordable home therapy device for individuals with 
Parkinson's disease 
 
 
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05655377 
 
Date: 1/17/2023 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Background 
Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is the second most common progressive neurodegenerative disorder   
affecting older adults in the United States and is predicted to increase in prevalence as the national 
population ages [1]–[3]. PD is characterized by cognitive deficits and debilitating motor impairment that 
includes bradykinesia, rigidity, tremor, postural instability, and gait disorders [1]–[5]. Current 
management of the disease has centered on pharmacological solutions [6], but even with optimal drug 
treatment, individuals still experience a deterioration in motor function, mobility, cognition, and daily 
activities [5], [7], [8]. This can lead to decreased independence, inactivity [9], social isolation [8], and 
reduced quality of life [8]. However, a growing body of research suggests that exercise therapy in 
conjunction with drug therapy can help slow down the degenerative process and even improve motor 
function [7], [10]–[24]. Unfortunately, access to intensive rehabilitation is limited, which often results in 
suboptimal dosages of exercise therapy [25]–[27]. In fact, one study by Hassan et al., [27] found that at 
10 years post diagnosis, just 41% of individuals with PD were receiving physical therapy and only 16% 
were receiving occupational therapy. Long-term, frequent exercise therapy is necessary to maximize and 
maintain benefits [10], [13], [21], [28]–[32] and thus must become a routine part of everyday life for 
individuals with PD. Engaging home therapy options that encourage therapeutic exercise could increase 
the dosage and long-term duration of therapy individuals receive. However, most home-based exercise 
equipment (e.g., a treadmill) is not optimized to safely promote activity in older individuals with PD. 
Indeed, there remains a tremendous need for home exercise technology that is specifically tailored to 
address the problems faced by individuals with PD.  
Recognizing this, we developed a computer-guided, in-home exercise system for promoting exercise 
in individuals with PD, called FitMi PD. The system consists of two wireless input devices (“Pucks”) that 
measure movement (via inertial sensors), compression force, and touch events, and provide haptic 
feedback in the form of vibration. The Pucks communicate with exercise software on a computer or tablet 
to sense and direct exercises. The software analyzes the sensor inputs in real-time, detecting when an 
individual completes a repetition of a target exercise and providing motivating feedback to users. 
 
Study Design 
 
We evaluated the usability of FitMi PD in a three-week at-home study with 9 individuals with mild to 
moderate PD. All participants were provided with a FitMi PD system and were instructed to exercise for a 
total of 3 hours per week at the times and durations of their choosing for 3 weeks.  
 
Methods 
 
Inclusion criteria included a diagnosis of mild to moderate PD (Hoehn and Yahr stage I to III [33]), Mini-
Mental State Examination [34] greater than 28, and age younger than 85 years old. All participants 
provided informed consent. After obtaining consent, participants were invited to use FitMi PD under 
supervision from a study administrator who provided initial instruction on how the system works and then 
guided the users through a practice session. Participants played through a few exercises in the software 
until they had demonstrated that they could use the system on their own. Following the supervised 
practice session, participants were invited to take home a FitMi PD system with tablet and exercise 
software pre-installed. They were instructed to exercise for a total of 3 hours/week at the times and 
durations of their choosing for 3 weeks. Appropriate exercise movements for each participant were 
selected in collaboration with each participant by a trained therapist.  

After 3 weeks, participants returned for follow-up. At this point, the total number of hours of exercise 
therapy the users performed was extracted from the tablet. We will also solicited usability feedback from 
participants and their caregivers.  
 
 
Results and Statistical Analysis 
 
We recruited 9 individuals (4 Male, 5 Female) with a diagnosis of mild to moderate PD (Hoehn and 
Yahr stage I to III). The mean age of participants was 57 (range: 45 to 77 years) and mean time since 
diagnosis was 4 years (range: 1 to 10 years). Seven out of 9 participants successfully used FitMi PD to 
perform exercises at home, with the total number of exercise repetitions ranging from around 350 to 
10,000. For the two participants who did not use the FitMi PD system: one did not feel comfortable 
exercising without their caregiver, who unexpectedly moved away shortly after enrollment; the other 
participant attempted a standing exercise even though their therapist had not recommended it and had 
difficulty maintaining their balance, which discouraged them from participating further. No safety 
concerns or adverse events were reported. No additional statistical analyses were performed due to the 
small sample size of the study 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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