Aage Jenssen shows us the place that has become the most important in his life. The training room in the basement of the house in Arendal. It appears as a pure Hi-Tech place with various game consoles and a large TV screen connected to an exercise bike and VR glasses. It has been three and a half years since the 69-year-old received the news of the serious diagnosis, Parkinson’s disease. – It was my wife who first noticed that I was doing things ever so slightly more slowly. But instead of letting the disease take over, Aage started a tough fight against the clock. – The disease is like rowing against the current. One can never give in, but must fight against all the time. Aage found the solution precisely in his own basement. Aage in the Hi-Tech training room in the basement which has become absolutely essential in keeping his Parkinson’s disease at bay. Photo: Espen Bierud / news Tired of boring training He puts on the VR glasses. He looks like a sci-fi creature from the Star Wars universe. It is perfectly fine for someone with a background as an electrical engineer. Suddenly, Aage is in the middle of a fierce boxing match. And that against Sylvester Stallone himself. Aage in a boxing match with Sylvester Stallone himself. Photo: Espen Bierud / news Aage’s hands with the lighted consoles move quickly back and forth. The strokes are fixed and determined. The sweat is dripping. Then he quickly drops to his knees to avoid the giant’s fist. – This is hard training. I have to hit the right shots. It is practice in precision and speed. It is absolutely crucial to contain the disease, he says out of breath. Aage was tired of the routine bending and stretching exercises he received. He needed something more inspiring and varied. – With the VR glasses, I train both boxing and tennis. It’s really fun and it’s new all the time. – Brilliant solution Jon Jomaas is Aage’s permanent physiotherapist and has ten years’ experience of training Parkinson’s patients. He is very impressed by how Aage has faced the disease with creative solutions. – It is an ingenious way of solving everyday problems. The use of computer games and VR glasses means that he can train at home, and when it suits him. This makes him less dependent on physiotherapy and gyms, says Jomaas. Physiotherapist Jon Jomaas is impressed by how Aage has faced the disease with creative solutions that work. Photo: Espen Bierud / news He believes Aage’s method can also be suitable for others with similar illnesses. – Even older people can manage to make this work. And remember that some of those who get this disease in their 40s to 60s are also often good at computers. Cycling in Provence Back in Aage’s basement, it is ready for another training session. Now it’s the bike that matters. Here, too, there are computer games in the picture. The bike ride can take place anywhere in the world, visually via the TV screen in front of him. – Now I’m on the country road in Provence. It’s sunny and inspiring to cycle in such a landscape, says Aage with a rising pulse. The bike is connected to a cycling app, and the resistance in the spokes changes according to how much of a climb there is in the virtual landscape. – The cycling trips will be something quite different than on an ergometer bike in a closed room. Will research the use The Norwegian Parkinson’s Association has established a network of professionals who work with Parkinson’s patients across the country. They now want to do more research into the use of VR glasses for such training. General secretary Britt Inger Skaane says so. – I believe that VR technology can also stimulate activity in a new and exciting way. This can be used as a stimulating training tool for those who can no longer get out to train with others. Secretary General Britt Inger Skaane of the Norwegian Parkinson’s Association wants to have more research carried out on the use of VR glasses for Parkinson’s patients. Photo: Privat Forbundet has previously carried out a project related to digital training with the Nintendo Wii, but will now also take a closer look at VR. A project has previously been carried out at Oslo Met, where students developed a VR game for people with Parkinson’s. – The results show that this can be good training for fine motor skills and coordination, says Skaane.
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Fighting the disease with VR glasses – news Sørlandet – Local news, TV and radio
