Thinking especially of the elderly and Parkinson's patients, a team of researchers from the University of Houston has developed a smart belt that reduces the risk of falls facilitating that they can maintain the balance.
This new accessory works through vibrations and in connection with an application installed on the smartphone, being of great help for anyone who suffers from balance problems as it prevents falls and all the problems that can result from them, including death.
The Smarter Balance System, another breakthrough in technology and health
A team of researchers from the University of Houston (Texas, United States) has developed the so-called "Smarter Balance System", a system consisting of an application for the smartphone and a smart belt that comes equipped with sensors capable of recording people's movements and sending vibrations to guide them through a series of balance exercises.
The system can be of enormous help, especially in the case of the elderly and / or Parkinson's patients (this disease often manifests itself at an early age, remember the case of actor Michael J. Fox), but also for anyone who suffers problems related to your ability to balance.
Alberto Fung, one of the researchers from the University of Houston team, has explained that the mobile app records the movements of the patient and based on this, generates a "custom movement for your body tilt based on your individual limits of stability", in such a way that the system acts almost as if it were a physiotherapist.
In addition to this, the system also provides a visual guide on the smartphone screen, and records the patient's activity on an online server so that your doctor or therapist can perform a remote monitoring of your progress, adjust the exercises, and so on.
Beom-Chan Lee, another researcher on the team, says their goal is to help improve quality of life "by improving postural stability, reducing the number of falls and increasing your confidence in daily activities." According to Lee, Parkinson's patients who participated in a 6-week home study showed "remarkable improvements."
