As we get older, it becomes harder to keep our balance and stand straight. This happens because our muscles get weaker, our eyesight changes, and our bodies are slower at sensing movement. Because of these changes, many older people fall more often. In fact, about 4 out of 10 older adults fall at least once every year.
Experts have known for a long time that doing certain exercises can help people improve their posture and balance. These exercises train the body to react quickly when balance is disturbed—like when someone gets a sudden push.
But the problem is that the equipment used for this training is usually big, expensive, and hard to use. That makes it hard for people to do these exercises unless they go to special clinics.
Now, there is good news. A new study from the Tokyo University of Science shows a new way to help with balance training. Assistant Professor Masataka Yamamoto and his team have created a small, easy-to-use device that people can wear to help with balance and reduce falls. This device is called the Wearable Balance Exercise Device, or WBED.
The WBED looks like a pair of suspenders. It has two small artificial muscles that gently push the person wearing it from side to side. These soft pushes help the body learn how to stay steady when balance is disturbed. It’s kind of like practice for staying upright when something unexpected happens.
One great thing about the WBED is that it is lightweight and easy to carry. People can use it at home or during therapy sessions. It’s also simple to use, which makes it perfect for older adults who might find complex machines difficult.
To see if the WBED works, the researchers did a study with 18 healthy men. They split the men into two groups. One group used the real WBED for training, and the other group used a fake version that didn’t do anything. After the training, the researchers tested everyone’s balance to see if there were any improvements.
The results were clear. The men who trained with the real WBED were much better at keeping their balance when they were pushed. This shows that the WBED can really help people improve their balance and control their posture.
This small and simple device could make a big difference for older people. It could help prevent falls and the injuries that often come with them. Since the WBED is easy to use at home, older adults don’t need to go to a clinic to do balance training. They can do it every day in their own living room.
But the WBED isn’t just for seniors. It could also help athletes who want better balance and coordination. Training with the WBED might help them perform better in sports.
With more and more people getting older, especially in countries like Japan, devices like the WBED are becoming very important. They help people stay safe, independent, and healthy.
In the future, the WBED might not just be for elderly care. It could also be used in sports and other activities where good balance is important. This simple new tool could help many people live better and safer lives.
If you care about bone health, please read studies that plant-based diets can harm your bone health without these nutrients, and this bone problem may strongly increase COVID-19 death risk.
For more health information, please see recent studies that too much of this vitamin may increase your risk of bone fractures, and results showing this type of exercise may protect your bone health, slow down bone aging.
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