As people age, staying balanced and maintaining good posture becomes more difficult. Muscles naturally weaken over time, eyesight may decline, and the body’s ability to sense movement and position becomes less sharp.
These changes make it harder to react quickly when something unexpected happens, such as tripping or being bumped while walking. As a result, falls become much more common in older adults and can lead to serious injuries, loss of independence, and even long-term health problems.
Experts estimate that about 40 percent of older adults experience at least one fall each year. Preventing falls is therefore a major goal for doctors and caregivers. For many years, researchers have known that special exercises designed to improve balance can reduce the risk of falling.
These exercises, often called postural control training, teach the body to respond quickly and automatically to sudden changes in position.
However, traditional balance training often requires large, complex equipment found only in hospitals or specialized clinics. These machines can be expensive and difficult to use, making them inaccessible for many people who could benefit from them. This has limited the number of older adults who are able to receive effective training.
A new study published in the IEEE Journal of Translational Engineering in Health and Medicine introduces a promising solution. Assistant Professor Masataka Yamamoto and his team at Tokyo University of Science have developed a portable device called the Wearable Balance Exercise Device, or WBED.
This innovative device aims to make balance training simpler, more affordable, and available for home use.
The WBED looks like a lightweight harness that a person wears over their shoulders. It contains two small artificial muscles that can gently pull the body to one side or the other without warning.
These sudden movements force the wearer to react quickly to stay upright, closely simulating real-life situations where balance is challenged. Repeated training with these unexpected shifts helps strengthen the body’s natural balance responses.
Unlike traditional equipment, the WBED is designed to be light, portable, and easy to use. People can wear it during therapy sessions or even practice at home, making regular training much more convenient. This could allow older adults to strengthen their balance every day instead of only during occasional clinic visits.
To test the device, researchers conducted an experiment with 18 healthy young men. Participants were divided into two groups. One group trained with the real WBED, while the other group used a similar device that did not actually create movement.
Before and after several training sessions, scientists measured how well each person could maintain balance when pushed unexpectedly.
The results showed that those who used the real device improved significantly. They were better able to stay steady when their balance was disturbed. This suggests that the WBED can effectively train the body to respond quickly and reduce the risk of falling.
Although the study involved young adults, the device could be especially helpful for older people and individuals recovering from injuries. Regular practice may improve strength, coordination, and confidence in daily activities. The device may also benefit athletes who rely on quick reactions and precise balance in sports.
As populations around the world continue to age, especially in countries like Japan, simple tools that help people stay independent and safe are becoming increasingly important.
The WBED represents a step toward making effective balance training available to more people. With further research and development, this wearable technology could play a major role in helping individuals stay active and avoid serious falls as they grow older.
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