Audio-Biofeedback for Balance Improvement: An Accelerometry-Based System

Abstract

This paper introduces a prototype audio-biofeedback system for balance improvement through the sonification using trunk kinematic information. In tests of this system, normal healthy subjects performed several trials in which they stood quietly in three sensory conditions while wearing an accelerometric sensory unit and headphones. The audio-biofeedback system converted in real-time the two-dimensional horizontal trunk accelerations into a stereo sound by modulating its frequency, level, and left/right balance. Preliminary results showed that subjects improved balance using this audio-biofeedback system and that this improvement was greater the more that balance was challenged by absent or unreliable sensory cues. In addition, high correlations were found between the center of pressure displacement and trunk acceleration, suggesting accelerometers may be useful for quantifying standing balance.

Optimizing User Integration for Individualized Rehabilitation

“…Or the device may provide supplementary sensory cues to alert the user to events or cautionary indicators related to the movement. For example, vibrational cues have been used for training individuals on how beter to use a device [34], and audio cues have been provided for assisting individuals in balance function [35].…”

A wireless embedded tongue tactile biofeedback system for balance control

“…Augmented/substituted sensory biofeedback, widely used in physical therapy and rehabilitation, is mostly delivered though visual (e.g., [28,33,50]) or acoustic sensory channels (e.g., [5,11,25]). At this point, however, these biofeedback systems, interfering ipso facto with the use of vision and hearing and hence presumably leading to a multi-tasking deficit, seem not particularly well-suited to applications in which users have to attend to several tasks simultaneously, nor for individuals with visual or hearing impairments.…”

Balance trainer - a device for dynamic and static training for patients in standing position (practical use)

“…Training on Balance-trainer with real-time feedback available, allows a patient to control their psychophysical state basing on visual as well as auditory stimuli [1,5,7]. Conscious impact on one's physiological functions increases one's perception capacities [2][3][4][5].…”

“…Conscious impact on one's physiological functions increases one's perception capacities [2][3][4][5]. In an utterly safe way, a patient can compare and control their sensations with the read-outs from the machines software [2,7]. On the same basis, therapists can fi nd out whether applied therapy is effective or not [2].…”