294: Myoelectric Functional Orthosis: Myomo And Upper Extremity Rehabilitation
Release Date: 12/01/2025
326: Why Standard Heart Rate Formulas Fail People With Parkinson's With Cielita Lopez-Lennon, PT, DPT, NCS
I Love Neuro
Are the heart rate formulas we've been using actually working for our patients with Parkinson's? In this episode, hosts Erin Gallardo, PT, DPT, NCS, and Claire McLean, PT, DPT, NCS, discuss with Cielita Lopez-Lennon, PT, PhD candidate in Rehabilitation Science at the University of Utah, her recently published research on refining maximal heart rate estimation for people with Parkinson's disease. The conversation digs into why standard formulas like 220 minus age systematically overestimate max heart rate for people with autonomic dysfunction, what chronotropic incompetence actually means in...
info_outline
325: Falls Training For Parkinson's: Why Patients Are Demanding It With Naomi Casiro, BSc., MPT
I Love Neuro
What would it look like if your patients stopped fearing the floor? In this episode, hosts Erin Gallardo, PT, DPT, NCS, and Claire McLean, PT, DPT, NCS, discuss with Naomi Casiro, physiotherapist and founder of Neuro Fit Academy, what happened when her falls training sessions at World Parkinson Congress drew over 100 attendees in a room designed for 40. They dig into why patients with Parkinson's are starting to demand falls training themselves, and how that overwhelming response reflects a massive gap in what clinicians are currently being taught. Naomi recently launched her FMF —...
info_outline
324: When Robots Amplify Mistakes To Drive Recovery: Error Augmentation In Neuro Rehab With BioXtreme
I Love Neuro
In this episode, host Erin Gallardo, PT, DPT, NCS interviews BioXtreme CEO Eyal Samuel Shachar and researcher Dr. James Patton, PhD about BioXtreme’s robotics-based neurorehabilitation devices, with a focus on their Plaxtream hand system. Inspired by founder Nini Bluman’s experience helping his father recover hand function after a stroke, Plaxtream combines robotic hardware, engaging game-based activities, and an AI-driven, adaptive error augmentation approach to improve grasp, release, pronation, and supination. Dr. Patton explains how error augmentation—strategically amplifying...
info_outline
323: Before We Left for Phoenix: Our World Parkinson Congress 2026 Preview
I Love Neuro
In this episode hosts, Erin Gallardo, PT, DPT, NCS and Claire McLean, PT, DPT, NCS share their excitement and plans for attending the 2026 World Parkinson Congress (WPC) in Phoenix, Arizona, a unique international conference that brings together people with Parkinson’s, care partners, therapists, physicians, and researchers. Drawing on their past experiences at WPC in Montreal, Portland, and Kyoto, they describe how special it is to attend this event as a full team this year, staying together in an Airbnb and connecting with colleagues and members from around the world. They highlight what...
info_outline
322: Find Work-Life Balance With Alignment, Not Productivity Tools
I Love Neuro
Is work-life balance an elusive concept you have yet to master while running your life and neuro biz? In this episode, hosts Erin Gallardo, PT, DPT, NCS and Claire McLean, PT, DPT, NCS discuss the topic with NeuroBiz Coach, Emily Duval Ledger. Many clinicians start businesses to escape traditional job burnout but then recreate the same patterns by overworking and glorifying busyness. In the show we talk about recognizing when “busy” becomes unproductive, using tools like time-blocking, planners, and realistic daily priorities to focus on high-impact tasks and reduce urgency overload, but,...
info_outline
321: How To Use AI Tools To Get Time Back Even When You’re Not Techy With Shanté “Movement Maestro” Cofield, PT, DPT, OCS
I Love Neuro
Dive into AI tools in your personal life, work life and business by learning what to use, how to use it and how NOT to use it. In this episode, hosts Erin Gallardo, PT, DPT, NCS and Claire McLean, PT, DPT, NCS talk with physical-therapist-turned-entrepreneur Dr. Shanté “Movement Maestro” Cofield, PT, DPT, OCS about what AI is and how it can practically support health and fitness professionals. Shanté explains AI in simple terms as powerful computer programs called large language models (LLMs) that use math and probability to predict the most likely next word, making it possible for us to...
info_outline
320: AI Documentation As A Game-Changer For Neuro Rehab: How-To
I Love Neuro
Has your clinic adopted AI for documentation yet? If not (or if so!) check out this episode to learn about how it can transform your time and allow you to do your job unfettered. Hosts Erin Gallardo, PT, DPT, NCS and Claire McLean, PT, DPT, NCS interview Sparky instructor Jamie Haines, PT, DScPT, NCS about how AI-powered documentation is transforming her life in the clinic, and how without it she would not have returned to the clinic after being in academia. Neuro physical therapists have long struggled to balance hands-on care with time-consuming paperwork. In this conversation, Jamie, a PT...
info_outline
319: How And Why You Should Train Neuro Clients In More Positions With Dr. JJ Mowder-Tinney, PT, PhD, NCS
I Love Neuro
In this episode, hosts Erin Gallardo, PT, DPT, NCS and Claire McLean, PT, DPT, NCS and JJ Mowder-Tinney, PT, PhD, NCS discuss the critical but under-addressed role of transitional movements in neurologic rehab, especially for people with conditions like MS, Parkinson’s disease, stroke, and spinal cord injury. In the show we’ll highlight how traditional therapy often focuses on sitting, standing, and walking, while many real-life challenges involve moving through positions such as supine, prone, quadruped, kneeling, and floor-to-stand. Claire and JJ share clinical experiences showing that...
info_outline
318: Using RTM With Neuro Clients For Increased Revenue, Motivation, And Data Metrics To Justify Therapy
I Love Neuro
Want to learn more about Remote Therapeutic Monitoring in neuro? In this episode, host Erin Gallardo, PT, DPT, NCS speaks with physical therapist and former clinic owner turned digital health leader Sarah Anestam, PT, MSPT and practice owner Katie Wadland, PT, DPT, GCS about how the OneStep app and remote therapeutic monitoring (RTM) are transforming outpatient and home-based rehab. Sarah explains how OneStep uses smartphone sensors to turn everyday walking into objective gait and fall risk data, giving clinicians “gait lab in a pocket” insight into how patients move in real-world...
info_outline
317: Maximize Progress In Neuro Rehab Using Rhythmic Auditory Stimulation With MedRhythms
I Love Neuro
If you’ve used music in therapy sessions and found it helpful you’re going to love this one! In this episode, host Erin Gallardo, PT, DPT, NCS interviews Brian Harris, MA, MT-BC, NMT/F, FACRM, a board-certified music therapist and founder of MedRhythms, about how music, neuroscience, and technology are being combined to transform neurorehabilitation. Brian shares the powerful clinical experiences that led him from traditional music therapy into developing neurologic music therapy programs at Spaulding Rehab Hospital, where rhythmic auditory stimulation (RAS) produced remarkable gains...
info_outlineIn this episode of the I Love Neuro podcast host Erin Gallardo, PT, DPT, NCS talks to Christian Leonakis, PT, DPT, Alanna Wathen, PT, DPT, and Danielle Parmenter, MOT, OTR/L, SCLV about Myomo and the MyoPro upper extremity myoelectric orthosis.
The world of neurological rehabilitation, innovation continues to push the boundaries of what's possible for patients recovering from stroke, traumatic brain injury, and other neurological conditions. Enter Myomo, a groundbreaking myoelectric orthosis that's changing lives one arm movement at a time.
This isn't just another medical device—it's a personalized technology that acts like a "helping hand" for individuals struggling with upper extremity mobility. Weighing approximately three and a half pounds, the Myomo device uses advanced EMG sensors to amplify even the smallest voluntary muscle contractions, allowing patients to regain functional movement.
What sets Myomo apart is its commitment to patient-centered care. The device isn't a one-size-fits-all solution but a custom-fitted orthosis that patients take home after approximately 10 weeks of specialized training. Designed to look almost like something out of a sci-fi movie—think Iron Man's arm technology—the device comes in customizable colors and helps patients perform everyday tasks like opening doors, carrying groceries, or even walking their dog.
The team behind Myomo, including clinical experts like Christian Leonakis, Alanna Wathen, and Danielle Parmenter, are passionate rehabilitation professionals who understand that recovery is a complex journey. They emphasize that while the device can be transformative, patients need realistic expectations: some might see compensatory improvements, while rare cases might experience significant neurological recovery.
With Medicare coverage now available and ongoing technological developments promised for 2026, Myomo represents more than just a medical device—it's a beacon of hope for those seeking to reclaim independence and functionality after neurological challenges.
For clinicians and patients interested in learning more, Myomo's website offers comprehensive resources and screening processes to determine individual suitability for this innovative technology.