West Virginia University Hospitals East

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The Balance Master ®


Getting out of a chair. Walking through your home. Reaching for a glass in a cupboard. Bending over to put your shoes on. Driving your car. Shopping for groceries. These are normal everyday activities, but did you know that they all depend on your ability to control your balance? People with balance and dizziness problems have difficulty with even the simplest of tasks. What is alarming is that at least half of the U.S. population will experience balance problems sometime during their lives, especially as they get older. In fact, poor balance and fall related injuries account for a large percentage of emergency room visits each year.

If you are an older person with a balance problem, you've likely been told that poor balance is a natural and untreatable part of getting older! Or worse, whether younger or older, you've been told that your "dizzy spells" are all in your head!

The good news is that medical research has proven that balance problems are NOT imaginary or inevitable with age, and there are effective treatments available for those who do experience balance problems or dizziness. The physical therapists at WVUH-East City Hospital are specially trained in the evaluation and treatment of balance disorders.

Unfortunately, a vast majority of people suffering from balance disorders are not aware of the help that is available. Your family physician may also be unaware of the latest procedures.

If you or someone you know is suffering from a balance disorder, we encourage you to call your doctor or our clinic to learn more about how your balance system works and how your problems can be treated.

The Balance Master® provides objective assessment and retraining of the sensory and voluntary motor control of balance with visual biofeedback. The System utilizes a fixed 18" x 60" dual force plate to measure the vertical forces exerted by the patient's feet. The long force plate allows for enhanced assessment and training capabilities.

The interactive technology and clinically proven protocols allow our physical therapists to objectively assess patients performing tasks ranging from essential daily living activities through high-level athletic skills. The objective data aids in the design of effective treatment and/or training programs focused on the specific sensory and motor components underlying a patient's functional limitations.

Interactive, functional training exercises are prescribed using visual biofeedback, coupled with sensitive, real-time monitoring of movement. This has been shown to motivate patients to achieve greater balance faster. Exercise protocols available on the Balance Master can be tailored to meet individual patient needs and can be progressed as the patient's capabilities improve.