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MOUNTAIN MEADOWS, ASHLAND App that promotes walking tested here The more you walk, the more music you get By John Darling For the Daily Tidings DailyTidings.com By John Darling For the Daily Tidings Posted Sep. 9, 2014 @ 4:06 pm By John Darling For the Daily Tidings Posted Sep. 9, 2014 @ 4:06 pm If you go --> Dr. Bin Hu will give a free public lecture on “The Neurobiology of Longevity and Brain Aging” at 6:30 pm Thursday, Sept. 11, at the Mountain Meadows Clubhouse, 855 Mountain Meadows Dr... » Read more X If you go Dr. Bin Hu will give a free public lecture on “The Neurobiology of Longevity and Brain Aging” at 6:30 pm Thursday, Sept. 11, at the Mountain Meadows Clubhouse, 855 Mountain Meadows Drive, Ashland. » Social News Elderly folks with Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and multiple sclerosis tend to take smaller and smaller steps and slow down their gait, almost unconsciously — but there’s a simple new iPhone app that counters all that by feeding various music into headphones, making you pleasurably step up the pace and turning off the music when you don’t. The Ambulosono app is being pioneered and tested in groups all over the world by Dr. Bin Hu of University of Calgary in Alberta, but only in one place in the U.S., at Mountain Meadows retirement community in Ashland, where Madeline Hill (creator of Mountain Meadows) says it’s significantly improving her Parkinson’s symptoms. “I never liked walking but after eight months using this app, I move with a stronger gait and balance, swing my arms and really enjoy walking,” says Hill, 73. Hill got in a three month trial with the app, but it worked so well, she talked Hu into letting her keep using it — and she hopes to make it part of the fitness programs of everyone at Mountain Meadows, since it improves gait, balance and fitness of all, whether they have movement impairing diseases or not. Parkinson’s tends to steadily restrict walking gait, arm-swinging and facial expressions but, says Hill, the app, which is strapped to the knee inside your smart phone, activates neuroplasticity of the brain, making it build new synapses and expanding “motor memory.” Hill now takes walks of 30 to 60 minutes and notes the enhanced arm-swinging supplies better balance, thus lessening chances of falling. The app has a big playlist and plays the appropriate music — rock, classical, marches, whatever works best, according to past performance — to enhance your performance. When you master a certain pace length and speed, the music will alter to ask more of you. “The music goes in a part of my brain where I enjoy it, so that produces dopamine, a pleasurable brain chemical,” says Hill, “so that you desire to perform, all this without someone nagging at you to do it.” Noticing the changes, Hill’s yoga teacher, Marion Moore, says, “Her balance is much better. She moves more quickly, walks with better balance and faster.” Ambulosono user Temple Ashbrook, 78, who doesn’t have a movement disease, says, “I love it. The music is motivating and keeps me moving consistently with good variety. It helps my balance. I hope the program catches on.” With Vanessa Newman as site director, Hill has set up a Center for Sustainable Movement, enrolling and training 10 subjects in testing of the Ambulosono app. She maintains a waiting list for more, noting they need not be Mountain Meadows residents or have movement restricting diseases. Newman helps program each person’s data — stride, leg length. These go by wi-fi to a central computer, which alters the music for a brisk, comfortable walking stride. Other benefits from the device may include improved blood pressure, digestion, blood sugar, energy level and mental capacity, according to Hu’s literature. The scientific title of his clinical trial is “A sensorymotor ... musical walking program to promote healthy living and functional recovery for people living with Parkinson’s Disease.” The lay summary of the study notes its primary objective is “to prevent the most common Parkinsonian gait alterations, such as low speed, short steps, turning difficulties and to prevent events like shuffle, arm-leg incoordination, falls. Ambulosono trains patients to walk with larger and consistent steps.” John Darling is a freelance writer living in Ashland. Email him at [email protected].   By John Darling For the Daily Tidings DailyTidings.com By John Darling For the Daily Tidings Posted Sep. 9, 2014 @ 4:06 pm » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2014 Local Media Group, Inc. 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