Delivering on the Promise of Technology: How Magic Leap and Strolll are Transforming Parkinson’s Care

Technology has long been critical to solving some of our greatest challenges, holding the promise of transformative impact across various aspects of our lives.

Now, augmented reality (AR) technology is revolutionizing physical therapy by making innovative solutions possible that enhance patient outcomes, increase engagement, and help restore independence. Companies like Magic Leap and Strolll are at the forefront of this transformation.

Strolll digital therapeutic software (DTx), Reality DTX®, combined with cutting-edge AR technology developed by Magic Leap, is enhancing the physical therapy experience and accessibility for people with Parkinson’s disease.

After testing the Magic Leap 2 device, Strolll approached Magic Leap to advise on developing their app, and people across the company’s Solution Support, Software Engineering, Hand Tracking, and MedTech Partnership teams immediately recognized the importance of the effort. They saw an opportunity to fulfill a noble promise by leveraging their technology to make a real impact on people’s lives. This journey and the profound impact of the collaboration between Magic Leap and Strolll were captured by a short film.

“Strolll has always been a partner close to my heart. Their mission and product fascinated me right from the start,” says Magic Leap Director of MedTech Partnerships, Silvan Honauer. “We saw the potential impact of what this could do to change physical therapy and everyone working with them wanted to support them in every way we could.”

“This disease isn’t going to stop me.”

• Steve Ryan

Steve and Sue Ryan have been facing the challenges of Parkinson’s head-on for twenty years since Steve’s diagnosis. Their resilience, determination, and optimism have inspired individuals at Strolll and Magic Leap.

The Promise of Augmented Reality

By adapting to augmented reality and gamifying physical therapy, Reality DTx® grants patients independence, allowing them to choose when and where to conduct physical therapy and offering a variety of therapy experiences. This enables engaging, effective therapy to be seamlessly integrated into their daily lives. According to the Parkinson’s Foundation, exercise early in Parkinson’s has “slowed decline in quality of life compared to those who start later.”

Patrick Shironishita is the Director and Principal Software Engineer on the Magic Leap Solution Support team. “If you have a neurological disorder like Parkinson’s, doing exercises is very difficult. But it is quite necessary, both for your physical well-being as well as for your mental well being. It helps with the quality of life of people living with this disease.”

Caroline Gill, a Research Physiotherapist at Leeds Teaching Hospital and Steve’s physiotherapist, explains why structuring the physical therapy experience as exercise is important. According to research, “exercise has huge benefits for people with Parkinson’s. Technology can really help us here. Strolll has developed an app with a library of cues and games based on traditional [physical therapy] techniques.”

These visual cues are a critical component of the therapy experience. By reframing a walk across the room as a series of individual steps for people with Parkinson’s, it makes completing the task easier and more engaging.

Unlike passthrough video devices, which use screens and cameras to render a video feed of the physical world and then integrate additional content within it, Magic Leap 2 uses the company’s proprietary transparent lenses, or “optical see-through technology.”

By integrating the Reality DTx® cues within his unoccluded view of his surroundings, Steve and many other patients can interact with digital content safely and without the lag and distortion associated with passthrough video devices. In Steve’s case, it’s a matter of safety, significantly decreasing his risk of falling.

Innovation Through Collaboration

To help make the app experience as seamless as possible, teams across Magic Leap advised and supported Strolll.

Assisting Strolll with the app’s headpose and surface detection helped the app register the floor, walls, and the rest of the space surrounding the patient precisely and dependably in order to maximize the accuracy of the cue placement.

Patrick emphasizes that for the app to function effectively, “the person wearing the device needs to be able to see a cue at a certain distance from them all the time. You need to know where things are in the world and you need to know where your head is positioned in that world.”

As Director of MedTech Partnerships at Magic Leap, Silvan Honauer’s collaboration and support included product roadmapping and development, regulatory topics, cybersecurity, and go-to-market plans. 

“We also supported them with an EU grant letter in 2022, which helped them get funding for their projects. One of the last key interactions was our support earlier this year, where they started their US market entry.

“Having worked very closely with them for almost 3 years now, it is fantastic to see all their accomplishments over this period of time.”

“This technology does make me optimistic about the future of Parkinson’s rehabilitation and research.”

• Caroline Gill

Research Physiotherapist

Leeds Teaching Hospital NHS Trust

Seeing the Impact

While advising on the filming of the video in Leeds, UK, Magic Leap employees witnessed the promise of their technology fulfilled as they watched Steve try the Strolll app on Magic Leap 2 for the first time.

Watch Steve's Story

Within his first session, Steve’s confidence grew. His strides became longer, and his steps became higher. Putting less and less weight on his walker, Steve was eventually able to walk across the room nearly unaided. Steve and Sue’s excitement at his progress grew to enthusiasm, prompting him to repeat the exercises again and again.

“What we're finding is that people are enjoying these games,” says Caroline. “They don't see them as a chore. They see it as a fun way of getting up and moving.”

“You’ve just had the most amazing experience of your Parkinson’s journey so far,” said Sue, as they hugged.

According to Sue, this was the greatest degree of mobility and independence Steve had enjoyed in eight years.

“Hearing Sue’s emotional thanks to everyone involved in developing this technology was a powerful reminder of the incredible work that the teams at Magic Leap and Strolll undertake to continue to advance the beneficial impact that AR can make in people’s lives,” says Nicholas Samendinger, Director of Brand at Magic Leap.

Steve’s progress continued.

Bringing the device home, Steve began at-home physical therapy with Sue’s help—eventually walking with only gentle support from Sue, and without the need of the headset. Steve continues to use the app and Magic Leap 2 every day, gaining more confidence and motivation, with the support of Sue and the rest of his family.

The Transformative Impact of Technology

Caroline’s positivity remains high: “This technology does make me optimistic about the future of Parkinson’s rehabilitation and research.”

Steve and Sue’s journey, supported by the efforts of Magic Leap and Strolll, showcases the transformative impact of technology. As Magic Leap technology continues to evolve, the promise of better outcomes, enhanced quality of life, and increased independence grows for Steve and patients like him.

Magic Leap, and the individuals behind this innovative technology, want this promise to extend further.

For Silvan, “it’s fantastic to see our product being a part of that journey. It is inspiring to work with all our healthcare partners and see how they are thinking of implementing such technology to improve patients' lives.”