“STROLLL” featured in the Yorkshire post

Topic

An augmented‑reality physiotherapy programme using Stroll AR to support people living with Parkinson’s disease.

Core idea

Participants wear AR headsets that project visual cues — stepping stones, pathways, or targets — which help the brain initiate and coordinate movement more effectively. This can temporarily bypass some of the motor‑control difficulties caused by Parkinson’s.

Lead professional

Laura Wright, a neurological physiotherapist at Hallamshire Physiotherapy in Sheffield, leads the programme. She explains that AR can “unlock” movement by giving the brain something external to follow.

Where it’s happening

• Chesterfield
• Barnsley

Both groups have been trialling the technology in structured physiotherapy sessions.

Reported benefits

Participants describe:

• Improved walking confidence
• Better balance
• Increased strength
• More fluid movement
• A sense of motivation and enjoyment during sessions

Wright notes that some people show immediate improvements, while others progress steadily over time.

Participants mentioned

• Barrie Cooper, diagnosed with Parkinson’s, who reports feeling more confident and stable when using the AR cues.
• Terry Kendall, a branch chairman who helped fund the programme and advocates for its expansion.

Funding

Partially supported by local Parkinson’s groups and community fundraising.

Future potential

Wright suggests the same AR approach could be adapted for:

• Stroke rehabilitation
• Multiple sclerosis