Australian researchers have developed a theoretical approach that could pave the way for wearable devices designed to help older people and people with neurological conditions maintain their balance.
Researchers from Victoria University in Melbourne used computer simulations to test whether technology similar to that used to reduce vibrations in buildings and bridges could also reduce the amount a person sways while standing.
The study, published in the Journal of the Royal Society Interface, modelled human balance as a system in which low-frequency movements can become amplified, potentially contributing to instability.
Researchers Alessandro Garofolini and Rezaul Begg investigated the use of a lightweight “virtual tuned mass damper,” which works by redistributing movement energy rather than restricting normal movement.
In simulations, the approach reduced peak sway response by about 20 per cent under moderate conditions. The effect was greater when the model had lower natural damping, with reductions of up to 52 per cent under some simulated conditions.
The researchers said the findings could provide a basis for developing wearable technology to assist people who have difficulty maintaining their balance and potentially reduce their risk of falls.
The research was based on computer modelling and did not test a physical wearable device or involve human participants.
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