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Anyone tried Accelera SR 100 device? Or Walkasins?

Neuropathy | Last Active: Mar 13 9:32pm | Replies (16)

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@triciaot

The Accelera SR 100 is an interesting device. Thanks for posting about it.
Its main target is proprioception, per their literature - the ability for the body to know where it is in space. For example, when you see a baseball player in outfield run over and catch a fly ball just by sticking his arm up in the air - and it’s in the exact correct spot. Part of that skill is proprioception- the player, without thinking through the movement, without looking at his hand, knows where his glove is.

Our sensations are damaged with peripheral neuropathy and proprioception is one of them. This device evidently creates and send a signal intended to assist or replace proprioception. How much help this can be for peripheral neuropathy, and at what stage of neuropathy, is a question - probably what they’re working on now.

I’m a retired occupational therapist, proprioception is part of the OT and PT field. My guess, as I am no longer an active practitioner, is that IF the brain can learn to interpret the signal from the Accelera, and IF it’s enough to assist the movement you wish to improve (without touch feeling, and without pressure sensation, just knowing where your foot is in space may not be enough to catch you from falling, or if you’re not getting feedback that the rock you just stepped on is unstable and you need to adjust your stance).
My guess also is that it might take multiple devices at multiple joints to provide enough feedback. We use proprioceptive signals from the hip, knee, ankle, and toe joints to help direct where we wanted our foot to go.

For me, with some minor PN in my toes, the sensation most important to me would be the ability to feel pressure. Without pressure sensation I don’t know how much I need to push off to get the movement I want, I can’t feel the push under my toes.

So back to my unstable rock example, if your foot cannot feel the changes underneath it (the movement in the rock) by using touch and pressure sensation, your proprioception sense still might not keep you from knowing to adjust your stance to prevent a fall. However, we don’t know what the body can learn to adapt to - so I wouldn’t dismiss the idea that the Accelera could be helpful.

But it is definitely an interesting device. Possibly more useful for those that are in the process of losing peripheral sensation because it might be easier to train the nervous system when it is assisting an existing signal, and more difficult once all sensation (signals) are lost.

Sorry, I know my posts go on forever. But one more point. If you’re wanting PT therapy to address your PN using this device - your insurance company needs to know the cost/benefit. How does it save them money if they pay for this therapy. It helps to express your goals in terms that the insurance company understands, $$$. “I want to improve my walking or balance so I can stay independent, or employed? I need balance, use of my hands, walking, to do the essential work tasks required by my employer? I need to preserve, slow, gain peripheral nerve sensation to care for myself, drive, cook, not require assistance? I need improved PN to stay engaged in the community, social, and for quality of life?” When the doctor’s office hands you a short questionnaire, be very specific about your functioning. If you indicate you’re doing pretty good, pretty good doesn’t correlate with insurance companies laying out money. I don’t mean to lie. Obviously you’re there because you’re not 100% okay. Be specific about what’s not functioning correctly.

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Replies to "The Accelera SR 100 is an interesting device. Thanks for posting about it. Its main target..."

Thanks for posting this great explanation Tricia @triciaot. I struggled some reading the references I found and your explanation helped a lot!

Thank you for your reply, Tricia! I don't mind long posts at all. And it's great to see one from someone who worked in the field of OT and rehabilitation. As many people as there are who are suffering from PN, and of those the people with balance issues as a result, I was just surprised to stumble across information on the Accelera. Have you ever actually seen the device?
In my case, pain from lumbar stenosis came on suddenly in Sept of 2021. I tried PT, meds, and injections for about a year before having a 4-level laminectomy in Nov of 2022. The horrific pain was gone right away, but that's when I noticed the numbness and tingling in my feet. A skin biopsy showed that I have the beginnings of small fiber neuropathy. An EMG revealed there is still some foraminal compression in my lower back, and I feel that is contributing to the nerve issues in my feet.... and thus the balance issues and wobbly gait.
So I suppose that I may be one of "those that are in the process of losing peripheral sensation because it might be easier to train the nervous system when it is assisting an existing signal, and more difficult once all sensation (signals) are lost."
As for insurance, I know of no local doctor or PT who would even be interested in the Accelera. So IF I were to try it, I would have to pay out of pocket. If I knew it would help me, I would buy two of the devices, one for each ankle/leg.
On another subject, are you familiar with red light therapy devices? And if so, what are your thoughts? From what I can tell, there are "medical quality machines/devices" that may be more helpful and efficient than some of the less expensive devices that are sold online.
If I may ask, Tricia, what treatments are you using to try and help your neuropathy? Supplements? Shoes? Devices? Meds? I'm taking R-ALA, Benfotiamine and my podiatrist prescribed MetanX for me. Gabapentin and Lyrica each did nothing for me... and made me feel loopy and helped me gain weight. Fortunately, I don't have a lot of pain issues.... just primarily the numbness, tingling, and sometimes burning.
Thank you so much for sharing anything based on your experience as an OT.
Best wishes!
Mike