Naboso + Parkinson’s with Karl Sterling
Last week we sat down with one of our favorite neurorehab specialists, Karl Sterling, to better understand why he loves Naboso Insoles for his Parkinson’s clients.
Karl Sterling is the Creator of Parkinson’s Regeneration Training and a good friend of EBFA Global. If you have ever seen the before / after videos that “wow” people around the world – these come from the efforts and Parkinson’s outreach of Karl!
When did you first start integrating Naboso Insoles into your Parkinson’s programming?
Around the Fall of 2017 I started using the Naboso [Proprioceptive] Mats with my clients. Based on the positive results I soon started integrating the Naboso Insole with my clients and workshop attendees.
What are some of the biggest benefits you see from Naboso for Parkinson’s clients?
Whether I’m working with a client, one-on-one, or teaching one of my Parkinson’s workshops, I always introduce the Naboso Insoles the same way.
We first have people walk in their normal footwear. During this time, we’re looking at details such as: stride length, stride symmetry, velocity, reciprocal arm swing, posture, head position, are they walking in a straight line (or not), rotations, and overall confidence (or lack of) in gait.
Next, we have them take off their shoes and socks, install insoles into the shoes, and have them put their shoes back on (without socks).
Keep in mind that we don’t discuss ANYTHING about the insoles at all prior to use. We don’t want them expecting any particular results. They have no clue that we will use the insoles until after the initial gait observation. If they ask us why we’re putting them in their shoes, we say – hang on – we’re going to try something new.
Now, we watch them walk again and we observe the same details as listed above. In most cases, we notice some degree of improvement in all areas. However in many instances, we notice very significant improvements in: stride length, stride symmetry, velocity, reciprocal arm swing, posture, head position, walking a straighter line, rotations, and overall confidence in gait.
What we observe as movement professionals is relevant and important. However, much more important is how the client feels. We usually hear comments like: “I feel more stable, more secure, more coordinated, more confident, more sensation, more in control, and more ALIVE!” While all of these improvements are important and wonderful, the biggest benefit comes when a person was feeling depressed, hopeless, or defeated – but after moving better, they feel hopeful, optimistic, grateful, and they’re always smiling!
By far, the biggest benefit is when a person feels better psychologically and emotionally. It’s a cycle that feeds itself: “feel better, move better – move better, feel better.” It’s a WIN all the way around. Not only that, but when the client feels better, it immediately causes the caregiver and everyone else in their life to feel better! This makes for HUGE wins.
Some of the before / after Naboso videos (such as the above) are quite impressive. For those who doubt the results what do you tell them?
It’s a complete no brainer. Try them. Do it just as I described above.
You recently started the Parkinson’s Global Project. Can you tell us a little bit more about this?
I created a non-profit corporation called Parkinson’s Global Project, Inc. I have a mission behind the creation of the corporation and it goes like this: there’s all kinds of wonderful and relevant research to help people with Parkinson’s and other movement disorders, but most of it revolves around medications, nutrition, or generalized exercise.
While each of these plays an important role in helping people to manage disease symptoms and possibly slow disease progression, there’s a HUGE void in relevant tools and strategies that can make for instant and huge differences in quality of movement and life. My mission is to fill this void by funding research.
For example, let’s look at three products that we KNOW produce instant benefits in movement because of the sensory input they provide: Naboso products, RockTape, and Hypersphere vibrating products.
Because walking is the most functional movement each day for most people, Naboso Insoles are a product that shouldn’t be gone without. Yet, where’s research on benefits of barefoot (plantar skin) stimulation for people with Parkinson’s, MS, etc? We need much more research so that eventually, the medical and insurance communities see this as a mainstream strategy for helping to improve movement and reduce fall risk.
Furthermore – 10 minutes of holding a vibrating ball can help to temporarily reduce or eliminate tremors and dyskenetic movements. Granted, it’s a temporary fix, but if someone is trying to eat dinner in public, tremors often times lead to spilling of food or drink and making a mess. Hold onto that vibrating ball for 10 minutes and there’s a good chance of having a steady hand and therefore reducing chances of spilling.
What about RockTape? There are many brands of tape available, but RockTape is my personal favorite because it sticks well and doesn’t peel off like other brands tend to do. Something as simple as two strips of tape (one strip on each side of the spine) can give a reminder to stand up straighter.
Add all of this together and BOOM! You have a trifecta that will contribute to significant improvements in movement and reduction of fall risk.
With all that said – the Parkinson’s Global Project, Inc. is committed to raising money to fund research of this type – Naboso being our first and most important study.
Additionally, PGP donates money to various Parkinson’s associations around the world to help fund much needed education. I have traveled to many countries where education on Parkinson’s disease management strategies is 100% non existent. These people desperately need our help. We’re are committed to helping through our foundation.
I have so many amazing and life changing stories.
Here is my favorite. In July of 2018, I spent a week working at a physical therapy practice in San Luis Potosi, Mexico. I met a lady, Maria Celinda. She has Parkinson’s disease. As you can see in the video clip on the upper left quadrant, her toes were dyskinetically extended and walking without assistance was impossible:
In this video (upper left), she’s wearing normal footwear – no Naboso insoles.
Two days later, I taught a workshop with about 50 people in attendance. Maria Celinda was there and was wearing the insoles I gave her two days prior.
She walked into the workshop without assistance and was feeling good. In the upper right quadrant, you’ll see video of an exercise we were doing with several people. You can clearly see Maria walking quite well (she’s in the pink tank top). After a few minutes of walking, you’ll see in the lower left quadrant that she started RUNNING!
She felt SO good, she kept running and running. At the end of that video, you’ll see that Maria and many of us are standing around and talking (and crying). Not only was she walking unassisted for the first time in a couple of years, but she starting RUNNING for the first time in 15 YEARS!
Even better is the video in the lower, right quadrant. Maria had been out of work for several years. She was a PhD/chemistry professor at a university. 6 weeks after seeing her at the workshop in Mexico, I got off a plane in San Francisco to find out that Maria was BACK TO WORK and teaching at the university.
THIS is an amazing story and Naboso insoles are the reason she went from being out of work and walking with assistance to being back to work and teaching!
Amazed at the power of Naboso Neuro Insoles? You can learn more at:
www.nabosotechnology.com
You can learn more about Karl and Parkinson’s Regeneration Training at:
www.neuromotortraining.com