Development of a Motor-Controlled Mechanical Balance Board System for the Real-Time Personalized Physical Therapy

Abstract

The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association estimates that approximately 40% of Americans will suffer some sort of balance issue in their lifetime, resulting in impaired mobility or constant disorientation. In order to provide personalized physical therapy for patients, and help physical therapy physicians better understand the areas of the foot that may lead to issues with imbalance, the proposed balance board is designed to mechanically move to very specific angles in one axis at a high enough speed to break the balance of the user on the board. The shift in pressure distribution in the user's feet can then be tracked throughout the balance recovery period through pressure mats. This design can allow researchers and physicians to better target the areas in the foot that may be damaged and the cause of balance issues. The proposed system is portable, easy to use by patients and researchers, and low cost, all without sacrificing the quality of the data being collected. In order to help researchers and physical therapy physicians better understand the areas of the foot that may lead to issues with imbalance, the proposed balance board is designed to mechanically move to very specific angles in one axis at a high enough speed to break the balance of the user on the board. The shift in pressure distribution in the user's feet will then be tracked throughout the balance recovery period through pressure mats. This design can allow researchers and physicians to better target the areas in the foot that may be damaged and the cause of balance issues, and further can be expanded to various intervention therapy such as nerve stimulation, sensory augmentation, etc.