Good news for the one in three people aged over 65 who experience a fall every year.
Researchers at the University of Queensland are conducting a study to test if a device that gives feedback on a person’s body position can improve balance and stability.
The device, called VertiGuard, is worn like a belt and is able to record a person’s body sway while undergoing a series of tests.
After recording the sway, the VertiGuard sends vibration feedback to the wearer who can use that data to formulate a program to help retrain balance.
According to data from UQ, three out of five people aged over 60 have a hearing loss which increases the risk of a fall.
The university is calling for volunteers over the age of 60 who suffer some type of hearing loss and are able to walk under their own power to come forward.
Several studies have already shown that body sway reductions can be retained for hours or even days after balance training of this kind.
