SBIR/STTR Award attributes
Balance training is used to improve postural stability after injury or illness. Currently, the most common form of balance testing and training in clinics uses a balance board or stability ball to create an unstable surface to train the somatosensory system. Common assessment methods rely on the judgement of the clinician. Computerized Dynamic Posturography (CDP) systems have been developed to provide objective balance testing. CDP systems incorporate programmable moving platforms capable of perturbing and measuring center of mass (COM) movement in a systematic and measurable way. The Sensory Organization Test (SOT), administered on a CDP device, is able to concurrently or independently manipulate the visual, vestibular, and somatosensory systems. This test can help the clinician to determine if therapy is needed and which sensory system to focus on. Recent efforts have engaged the visual system by integrating virtual reality (VR) with static force measurement platforms to assess COM motion in various VR environments. While integrated VR systems have expanded the types of visual and vestibular perturbations available, use of a static force platform means the motor control system is not challenged or perturbed in a controlled manor. Systems with dynamic platforms would be beneficial for assessment and rehabilitation from vestibular and musculoskeletal injuries. This project seeks to develop a portable, customizable, computerized dynamic balance and measurement system that allows programmable levels of instability to deliver accurate Sensory Organization Tests in clinic, home, or field environments.
