Pioneering technology which is supporting people living with multiple sclerosis (MS) in recovering gait deficit is being rolled out more quickly through the adoption of online training.
Helius Medical Technologies introduced the PoNS device in Canada in 2019, and earlier this year became available to patients in the United States on prescription. Rollout within Europe is planned as the next step in its expansion.
The pioneering PoNS therapy – which stands for Portable Neuromodulation Stimulator – stimulates the tongue to enable MS patients to recover valuable aspects of their life, particularly in terms of balance and gait dysfunction.
In people with mild to moderate MS, the PoNS has been proven in clinical studies and trials to be highly effective, and is now delivering proven results in everyday life.
Now, to help neurotech Helius keep pace with its expansion, it has launched online training for physical therapists, harnessing the power of remote engagement to support their work in treating gait deficit in adults with MS.
“We are pleased to introduce our online PoNS Therapy training curriculum,” said Dane Andreeff, President and CEO of Helius.
“In the past, physical therapists treating gait deficit in patients with MS received PoNS training through an in-person, multi-day course. Our new online module allows training to be completed in three hours, or less, at the therapist’s own pace.
“Prior to implementing the software, we could only train five to ten people at a time and already we have 55 therapists in the queue in the United States, and another 20 in Canada.
“By standardising the process and reducing training time, we expand access to training and facilitate physical therapists’ specialization in PoNS Therapy to provide a meaningful therapeutic intervention for MS patients in the United States who suffer from walking impairment.”
While currently available in the US and Canada, roll-out into Europe is planned next, and PoNS is also authorised for sale in Australia for short term use by healthcare professionals as an adjunct to a therapeutic exercise program to improve balance and gait.
Helius is advancing PoNS post-approval research in MS through a recently-launched Therapeutic Experience Program (TEP), designed to partner with neurologists and neuro-rehabilitation therapists at up to 12 US centres of excellence, which express an interest in becoming “early adopters” of PoNS Therapy.
