Jolanda Client Testimonial

Full Testimonial

Jolanda participated in a Parkinson’s disease therapy study, conducted at the Surrey Neuroplasticity Clinic, supported by the Pacific Parkinson’s Research Institute. Here is her story.

From April 17 to May 3, 2023, I was a participant in the research study. Within the two weeks, my condition [Parkinson’s Disease] was assessed before participation, after participation and assessed again after two weeks of rest. Going in, I thought my symptoms, especially in stability and gait, were very minimal. But at the very first assessment and start of the first exercises, I was actually shocked at how bad I performed in even the simplest tasks (standing straight up with feet together and standing still with eyes closed).

During the two weeks, I received physical therapy including movement, balance, and gait training. Closed off with meditation. This was one-on-one training based on my individual abilities. 80 minutes in the morning, and 80 minutes in the afternoon in 20-minute subsections. During this physical training, I was using a PoNS neurostimulation device in my mouth. It felt like very course sanding paper to me. Not too unpleasant since I had control over the intensity. I also had a Galvanic Vestibular Stimulation (GVS) device with two nodules on the bony area behind my ears; this was not painful either.

The two trainers who were working with me were very good, professional, and very supporting. They challenged me and made me feel empowered. With this condition, I can’t even tell you in words what the support meant to me. I went all in, gave it my all. Sometimes it can get really tough, physically but also mentally.

From day one, I noticed improvements and that never stopped. Up until this day, I am still getting better and stronger as I continue to do the learned exercises at home. I wish I could have and use the PoNS all year round and receive physical training by the trainers and kinesiologists at Surrey Neuroplasticity Clinic.

The training in combination with neurostimulation from the PoNS device is a godsend. My personal results showed that my balance score had noticeable improvements after two weeks and further improved after two weeks of rest after the training. Compared to my first session, I am now able to stand up straight on a balance foam, on top of a wobble board with my eyes closed without falling for minutes on end! I learned to walk perfectly, forwards and backwards. I have the PoNS at home to use with my exercises and have it on while I hike. It is extraordinary what it does for me.

My biggest wish is that everybody will learn about neurostimulation and that the physical training and the PoNS device will become available to all Parkinson’s Disease patients if the study shows that it is effective. Not just the lucky few. Doctors, physical trainers, insurance companies, specialists, and everybody interested needs to learn about this. In my eyes there is no end to its potential in treating this awful disease!

*Note: The PoNS™ device is authorized in Canada for use as a short-term treatment of chronic balance deficit due to mild-to-moderate traumatic brain injury, mild and moderate symptoms from MS Multiple Sclerosis, and gait deficit due to mild and moderate symptoms from stroke, to be used in conjunction with physical therapy. The PoNS™ device is used off label under investigator supervision in this study. Galvanic Vestibular Stimulation is a method of non-invasive electrical stimulation to effect the vestibular system and potentially change balance, delivered using a research system limited to investigational use in this study.