Design and development of a novel balancer with variable difficulty for training and evaluation

Ang, Wei Tech; Tan, U-Xuan; Tan, H. G.; Myo, T.; Ng, Chee; Koh, K. L.; Cheam, B. S.

doi:10.1080/17483100802302651

Cited by 8 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 2 publications

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“…Static balance test (SBT) was measured using an intelligent balance board (Probalance; Lab Rehab Pte Ltd., Singapore). 27 Reliability of this balance board is reported to be within 0.92–0.93. 28 The balance board detects anteroposterior and mediolateral sways in degrees and an overall function score was calculated using the balance board computer software interface.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 87%

Association between physiological falls risk and physical performance tests among community-dwelling older adults

Singh

Pillai

Tan

et al. 2015

CIA

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BackgroundPhysical performance and balance declines with aging and may lead to increased risk of falls. Physical performance tests may be useful for initial fall-risk screening test among community-dwelling older adults. Physiological profile assessment (PPA), a composite falls risk assessment tool is reported to have 75% accuracy to screen for physiological falls risk. PPA correlates with Timed Up and Go (TUG) test. However, the association between many other commonly used physical performance tests and PPA is not known. The aim of the present study was to examine the association between physiological falls risk measured using PPA and a battery of physical performance tests.MethodsOne hundred and forty older adults from a senior citizens club in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (94 females, 46 males), aged 60 years and above (65.77±4.61), participated in this cross-sectional study. Participants were screened for falls risk using PPA. A battery of physical performance tests that include ten-step test (TST), short physical performance battery (SPPB), functional reach test (FRT), static balance test (SBT), TUG, dominant hand-grip strength (DHGS), and gait speed test (GST) were also performed. Spearman’s rank correlation and binomial logistic regression were performed to examine the significantly associated independent variables (physical performance tests) with falls risk (dependent variable).ResultsApproximately 13% older adults were at high risk of falls categorized using PPA. Significant differences (P<0.05) were demonstrated for age, TST, SPPB, FRT, SBT, TUG between high and low falls risk group. A significant (P<0.01) weak correlation was found between PPA and TST (r=0.25), TUG (r=0.27), SBT (r=0.23), SPPB (r=−0.33), and FRT (r=−0.23). Binary logistic regression results demonstrated that SBT measuring postural sways objectively using a balance board was the only significant predictor of physiological falls risk (P<0.05, odds ratio of 2.12).ConclusionThe reference values of physical performance tests in our study may be used as a guide for initial falls screening to categorize high and low physiological falls risk among community-dwelling older adults. A more comprehensive assessment of falls risk can be performed thereafter for more specific intervention of underlying impairments.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 87%

Association between physiological falls risk and physical performance tests among community-dwelling older adults

Singh

Pillai

Tan

et al. 2015

CIA

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“…The Pro-balance system ( Fig. 1 A and B) is a portable balancer which can be connected to a laptop, providing real-time visual feedback ( Ang et al, 2008 ). Participants could choose different games, each lasting 2 min, in which they had to move their center of gravity in order to tilt the platform forward, backward or sideways.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Training-induced improvements in postural control are accompanied by alterations in cerebellar white matter in brain injured patients

Drijkoningen

Caeyenberghs

Leunissen

et al. 2015

NeuroImage: Clinical

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We investigated whether balance control in young TBI patients can be promoted by an 8-week balance training program and whether this is associated with neuroplastic alterations in brain structure. The cerebellum and cerebellar peduncles were selected as regions of interest because of their importance in postural control as well as their vulnerability to brain injury. Young patients with moderate to severe TBI and typically developing (TD) subjects participated in balance training using PC-based portable balancers with storage of training data and real-time visual feedback. An additional control group of TD subjects did not attend balance training. Mean diffusivity and fractional anisotropy were determined with diffusion MRI scans and were acquired before, during (4 weeks) and at completion of training (8 weeks) together with balance assessments on the EquiTest® System (NeuroCom) which included the Sensory Organization Test, Rhythmic Weight Shift and Limits of Stability protocols. Following training, TBI patients showed significant improvements on all EquiTest protocols, as well as a significant increase in mean diffusivity in the inferior cerebellar peduncle. Moreover, in both training groups, diffusion metrics in the cerebellum and/or cerebellar peduncles at baseline were predictive of the amount of performance increase after training. Finally, amount of training-induced improvement on the Rhythmic Weight Shift test in TBI patients was positively correlated with amount of change in fractional anisotropy in the inferior cerebellar peduncle. This suggests that training-induced plastic changes in balance control are associated with alterations in the cerebellar white matter microstructure in TBI patients.

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“…Static Balance Ability Using Probalance Board (Probalance, Lab Rehab Pte Ltd., Singapore), scored by Overall Balance Score (OBS) [21]. The participants were required to stand on a Probalance board for 30 s. Their anterior-posterior and medial-lateral sways were measured and transformed into an overall balance score (OBS) by the Probalance software programme.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of substituting a portion of standard physiotherapy time with virtual reality games among community-dwelling stroke survivors

et al. 2013

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BackgroundEvidence indicates that the continuation of therapy among community-dwelling stroke survivors improves physical function. Community rehabilitation programmes often face limitations in terms of resources. It is imperative to include new motivational interventions to encourage some level of non-clinician management. The aim of this study was to determine whether there were any changes in physical function and activities of daily living when substituting a portion of the standard physiotherapy time with virtual reality games among community-dwelling stroke survivors.MethodsIn this controlled trial, the experimental group received 30 minutes of virtual reality balance games in addition to 90 minutes of standard physiotherapy. The control group continued with their two hours of routine standard physiotherapy. Both groups received 12 therapy sessions: two-hour sessions twice per week for six continuous weeks. Changes in physical function, activities of daily living and balance ability were assessed using the Timed Up and Go test, 30-second Sit to Stand test, Timed Ten-Metre Walk test, Six-Minute Walk test and the Barthel Index, and static balance was assessed using a probalance board.ResultsTwenty-eight participants completed post-intervention assessments. The results showed a significant within-subject effect on the Timed Up and Go test: F (1, 26) = 5.83, p = 0.02; and the 30-second Sit to Stand test; F (1, 26) = 13.50, p = 0.001. The between-subject effect was not significant (p > 0.05) for any of the outcome measurements.ConclusionSubstituting a portion of the standard physiotherapy time with virtual reality games was equally effective in maintaining physical function outcomes and activities of daily living among community-dwelling stroke survivors.Trial RegistrationAustralia and New Zealand Clinical Trials Register, ACTRN12613000478718

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Design and development of a novel balancer with variable difficulty for training and evaluation

Cited by 8 publications

References 2 publications

Association between physiological falls risk and physical performance tests among community-dwelling older adults

Association between physiological falls risk and physical performance tests among community-dwelling older adults

Training-induced improvements in postural control are accompanied by alterations in cerebellar white matter in brain injured patients

Effects of substituting a portion of standard physiotherapy time with virtual reality games among community-dwelling stroke survivors

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