New Products Intended to Stimulate Feet of MS Patients

Naboso Technology has expanded its product offerings with new insoles and training mats specifically designed to stimulate the nervous system through the skin on the bottom of the feet.

The products were developed to help improve balance, posture, movement and restore motor function, as part of a neurorehabilitation strategy for patients with chronic neurological disorders and motor neuron diseases. Those include multiple sclerosis, spinal muscular atrophy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and Parkinson’s disease.

Common symptoms in patients with neurological conditions are poor posture, balance instability, and compromised gait. From an increased likelihood of falling to reduced independence, compromised motor function and stability can lead to a range of issues that have a negative impact in these patients and their families, emotionally and economically.

Research has shown that sensory stimulation of the feet can improve dynamic stability.

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“Whether we are focused on multiple sclerosis or Parkinson’s disease, our greatest concern is maintaining their ability to move, walk and experience life,” Naboso Technology stated on its website. “Walking difficulties can happen to anyone with a chronic neurological condition, but interventions exist. Something as simple as a texture insole can have a profound impact on these individuals’ movement patterns and quality of life.”

Naboso Technology Mat and Insoles. Photo credit: Naboso Technology

When walking, running, and using your feet, touch or sensory stimulation of any of the hundreds of nerves sensitive to mechanosensation — pressure, stretch, vibration, and texture — creates an access point between the environment and the brain to better control movement coordination and improve posture.

These nerves in the feet go all the way to the somatosensory cortex (the region of the brain devoted to perceiving sensation) to aid in shaping motor movement. Simply stated, the better the ability to feel sensory stimuli, the better the ability to move.

Although sensory stimulation of feet has been shown to be one of the most effective ways to improve dynamic stability in patients with chronic neurological disorders, its incorporation into neuro-rehabilitation has been limited.

“Since our launch in 2017, Naboso Technology has been on a mission … to bring an awareness to the power of sensory stimulation in optimizing foot function,” Emily Splichal, MD, said in a press release. Splichal is founder of Naboso Technology and a functional podiatrist.

“The Naboso Insoles are uniquely designed to stimulate the nerves in the plantar foot, which in turn has an effect on foot activation, foot strength, and postural alignment. Our minimal design and low profile allows the Naboso Insoles to fit into a variety of shoes and athletic footwear,” Splichal said.

The insoles and mats were designed for training and rehabilitation, especially for patients with neurological disorders, but also professional athletes.

On their website, Naboso Technology wrote: “We have seen incredible, immediate results by putting the Naboso Textured Insole into the shoes of multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s patients. We have videos of patients who can barely walk and now are running! The power of the foot cannot be overlooked.”