As we get older, it becomes harder to keep our balance. Our muscles become weaker, our eyesight changes, and how we sense movement also changes.
These changes increase the chance of falling. In fact, about 40% of older adults have at least one fall each year.
Falls can cause serious injuries, so it’s very important to find ways to prevent them. Experts have found that certain balance exercises, called postural control exercises, can help. These exercises train people to adjust their posture quickly if something unexpected happens—like a sudden push or slip.
The problem is that most of the equipment used for these balance exercises is big, expensive, and difficult to use. This means people usually have to go to clinics or special centers to do the training.
Now, a new invention may change all that. Assistant Professor Masataka Yamamoto and his team at Tokyo University of Science have created a device called the wearable balance exercise device (WBED).
This new device is like a pair of high-tech suspenders. It uses two small artificial muscles to gently pull the person side to side, copying the feeling of being pushed.
This helps train the body to react quickly and stay upright. The WBED is simple, easy to use, and portable. It can be used at home or in physical therapy sessions, making balance training much more accessible.
To test if it really works, the team studied 18 healthy men. They split them into two groups. One group used the real WBED, and the other group used a dummy version that didn’t create real balance challenges. The researchers wanted to see if the device helped people improve their balance.
The results were clear. The people who used the real WBED got better at staying balanced when something unexpected happened. This means the device helps improve how people react and correct their balance.
This is great news for older adults and people in physical therapy. Using the WBED regularly could help them stay steady and avoid falls. Because the device is easy to use, more people will be able to include balance training in their daily life.
But the device could also help athletes. In sports, having good balance and fast reactions is very important. Athletes might use the WBED to train their stability and coordination.
This invention is a big step forward in keeping older people safe and independent. As more people around the world get older, tools like the WBED can help improve health and quality of life. It’s not just useful for older adults—anyone who wants better balance could benefit from this exciting new device.
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