Babak Hejrati, PhD, University of Maine, will present a talk at the 2026 Maine Science Festival exploring emerging approaches to improving mobility in older adults.
Many community-dwelling older adults experience abnormal gait patterns that increase the risk of falls, fear of falling, and loss of mobility. Traditional rehabilitation often relies on frequent clinic visits and continuous therapist supervision, which can limit access for many individuals.
This session will highlight research on wearable haptic feedback systems designed to support home-based motor learning and improve walking function in older adults with gait impairments. These technologies aim to enable individualized gait training that can be used regularly in home and community environments.