The design and development of a production prototype balance belt

This paper discusses the development of a balance device from lab to clinic/home use. An emerging practice among physical therapists in balance training and falls prevention addresses a major health problem in the United States: imbalance and its consequences. The annual cost for treating balance disorders exceeds $1 billion, not including the cost to treat falls. We aim to develop a non-invasive device worn around the waist. It detects when a person is tipping too far in any direction and vibrates on that side, signaling the wearer to stay within their limits of stability. Because this new technology gets a patient to a higher level of function in a shorter number of trials, it offers an opportunity to advance rehabilitation by enabling more effective outcomes for the same number of treatment sessions.