Vasper Research on Medical Conditions
Vasper’s mission is to provide non-invasive technology solutions that allow people, even with a variety of health conditions, to actively and safely engage their body’s natural systems in achieving optimal health, balance and wellness.
Below are research studies on the use of Vasper by people with a variety of health conditions, such as Cardiac Rehabilitation, Diabetes, Concussions and Post-Concussive Syndrome, Parkinson’s, Balance and PTSD. Vitality for Life is Parkinson Wise certified by PANC (Parkinson Association of Northern California) to work effectively with the Parkinson’s community.
VASPER FOR CARDIAC REHABILITATION
WISE VASPER SAFETY STUDY
Before starting a clinical trial in cardiac rehabilitation, cardiologist Dr. Jeff Gladden wished to demonstrate Vasper’s safety in using low-pressure blood flow restriction on a moderate exercise platform.
In this study, heart rates and blood pressure values were measured across 7 sessions with varying leg pressures applied – from 0mmHg to 85mmHg.
There was no significant difference in heart rate or blood pressure when comparing these sessions with blood flow restriction to a session without the Vasper cooling cuffs. This study demonstrates with the proper medical oversight and training, Vasper can be safe for almost any population.
Gladden J, Wernecke C, Rector S, Tecson K, McCullough P.
Pilot Safety Study: The Use of Vasper, A Novel Blood Flow Restriction Exercise, In Healthy Adults.
J Exercise Phys. Vol 19:2 99-105. 2016 Apr.
VASPER AND DIABETES
CONVENANT MEDICAL TYPE II DIABETES STUDY
Covenant Medical Hospital has a large population of patients with Type Ii Diabetes, and saw the potential for Vasper to alleviate exercise difficulties and improve results for people with Type II Diabetes.
Type II Diabetics face many challenges in improving their health, including that the most effective exercise routines are typically higher-intensity but also can result in issues with joint loading and pain, blood sugar management, and can be inaccessible due to common comorbidities.
In this study, patients used Vasper for 1-2 times a week over a period of 6 months. The midpoint (3 month) data indicates significant improvements in HBA1C, a marker for glucose tolerance, with an average decrease of 8%, and an average 3.6lbs of weight lost.
Vasper is an effective way to allow and adjust moderate exercise in this population while delivering results similar to the high-intensity programs. This data was accepted for abstract and poster presentation at the 2019 American College of Sports Medicine Annual meeting.
VASPER ON PREVENTING FALLS IN SENIORS
KAHALA NUI ELDERLY FALLS STUDY
The Kahala Nui Senior Living Home was interested in studying the potential of Vasper to help their residents prevent falls. 27 participants age 60-90 completed a 12-session program and were tested in measures of fall risk.
The average improvement to balance was 17%, the average increase in knee extension strength was 11 pounds of force, and participants showed a 6 second average improvement in the 10 Sit to Stand test.
Participants also reported a 63% improvement in subjective strength and 53% in balance. When compared to four other similar studies, the Vasper training intervention demonstrated a 260% improvement in only 13% of the training time, highlighting not only Vasper’s effectiveness in improving results, but also that these results take much less time and effort.
VASPER FOR CONCUSSION RECOVERY
2-Year IRB-approved Vasper clinical trial at the Cantu Concussion Center
The Cantu Concussion Center is one of the leading centers in the US for concussion treatment and rehabilitation. Dr. Cantu designed this study to focus on the need to help people with severe concussion symptoms and those diagnosed with Post-Concussive Syndrome.
Results: The study, published in 2019, shows that in 6 weeks of 2 Vasper sessions per week, the Vasper group showed statistically significant improvements in quality of life and measures of concussion recovery, specifically stability in emotional and sleep measures after a follow-up period of 6 weeks without rehabilitation.
Andrew Stanwicks, Caroline Stark, Terrie Enis, Robert Cantu, Jess Gravel, Josh Avery, Matthew White, Yi-Ning Wu
The effects of interval training with blood flow restriction and body cooling on the cognitive function of individuals with post-concussive symptoms for more than one year.
Results: Showed that interval training as an exercise regimen for people with more than one year persistent PCS symptoms alleviated the post-concussion symptoms. Symptoms in the cognitive domain improved more in the same time period when using BFR and BC.
University Massachusetts Lowell-Cantu PCS (Post-Concussive Syndrome) Study – Ongoing
After initial results from the Cantu Concussion Study showed dramatic improvements, University Massachusetts Lowell’s NERVE center for robotics and technology wanted to investigate the potential applications in a more severely affected group of Post-Concussion Syndrome patients – those with symptoms lasting over a year since initial incidence.
These patients are clinically recognized to have a more retractable condition in which conventional rehabilitation struggles to address significant improvement after a year of little or no response to treatment.
VASPER AND PARKINSON’S
UCSF Parkinson’s Study
UCSF’s Physical Therapy department conducted an investigation to explore the benefits and risks of three different technologies in use with people with Parkinson’s Disease.
The Vasper group completed 2 sessions per week for five weeks, and saw improvements in all measures – 10m Walk Speed (16.4%), 6-minute Walk Distance (7%), Timed Up and Go (23%), and 5x Sit to Stand (28.3%).
These improvements in a population with degenerative disease provides hope for Vasper to address physical limitations such as low-mobility that typically prevent more intensive rehabilitation strategies.
Byl N, Byl NN, Kretschmer J, Irina F, Molli B, Maurice G.
Aerobic Exercise Enabled with Rehabilitation Technology Improves Mobility and Balance of Patients with Parkinson’s Disease: A Quality Assurance Report.
Int J Phys Med Rehabil. 2:5 1-14. 2014.