A Wireless Embedded Tongue Tactile Biofeedback System for Balance Control

TL;DR

This study introduces a novel wireless tongue-based tactile biofeedback system that improves balance control by providing foot pressure information, demonstrating its effectiveness in reducing sway in healthy young adults.

Contribution

The paper presents a new embedded tongue tactile device for balance biofeedback and provides initial feasibility results showing its potential to enhance postural stability.

Findings

Reduced CoP displacements with biofeedback

Feasibility demonstrated in healthy adults

Potential for fall prevention applications

Abstract

We describe the architecture of an original biofeedback system for balance improvement for fall prevention and present results of a feasibility study. The underlying principle of this biofeedback consists of providing supplementary information related to foot sole pressure distribution through a wireless embedded tongue-placed tactile output device. Twelve young healthy adults voluntarily participated in this experiment. They were asked to stand as immobile as possible with their eyes closed in two conditions of nobiofeedback and biofeedback. Centre of foot pressure (CoP) displacements were recorded using a force platform. Results showed reduced CoP displacements in the biofeedback relative to the no-biofeedback condition. On the whole, the present findings evidence the effectiveness of this system in improving postural control on young healthy adults. Further investigations are needed to strengthen the potential clinical value of this device.