Biofeedback Technology Helping Improve Balance in Parkinson's Patients
From: Medical Design Technology - 08/01/2017

University of Houston researchers in the Department of Health and Human
Performance are helping patients with Parkinson's disease regain stable
balance and confidence in performing daily activities in their own homes. A
research team is developing the Smarter Balance System (SBS), a
smartphone-based biofeedback rehabilitation system that guides patients
through a series of balance exercises using wearable technology.

The custom, wearable belt lined with vibrating actuators creates a
personalized, in-home rehabilitation program with "touch guidance" based on a
patient's individual range of motion. Each subtle movement is mapped in
real-time for "visual guidance" using a series of dots and targets on the
smartphone application.

This technology could be used by anyone experiencing balance issues,
including the elderly.

Read the entire article at:
https://www.mdtmag.com/news/2017/08/biofeedback-technology-helping-improve-balance-parkinsons-patients
http://www.uh.edu/news-events/stories/2017/June/06302017ParkinsonsBalance.php (with video 1:00)

Link:
Sensori-Motor Augmentation & Rehabilitation Technology (SMART) Research Group
http://grants.hhp.uh.edu/leegroup

Wearable Balance System Aims to Help Lessen Fall Risk Among Parkinson’s Patients
http://www.rehabpub.com/2017/08/wearable-balance-system-aims-help-lessen-fall-risk-among-parkinsons-patients

Related:
Human Brain Recordings Provide Insights into Parkinson's Disease
https://www.mdtmag.com/news/2016/08/human-brain-recordings-provide-insights-parkinsons-disease

Impact of Personal KinetiGraph Use with Parkinson’s Patients to Be Studied
https://www.mdtmag.com/article/2016/06/impact-personal-kinetigraph-use-parkinsons-patients-be-studied

FDA Approves Medtronic's Deep Brain Stimulation for Parkinson's
https://www.mdtmag.com/news/2016/02/fda-approves-medtronics-deep-brain-stimulation-parkinsons

Mapping Neurons to Improve Parkinson's Treatment
https://www.mdtmag.com/news/2016/04/mapping-neurons-improve-parkinsons-treatment