We spent most of our day completing a workshop about balance. Throughout this program we have been learning about the Oreka-Balance project that our guest professors Saioa and Mikel have been working on. This project’s goal is to create a device that quantitatively measures a patient’s balance. They created a platform with force sensors that measures the center of pressure and balance responses from the patient. Today we spent more time learning about this device and the design process that went into it’s creation.
One reason this device was created is because it is hard to consistently measure balance using a non-quantitative scale. To demonstrate this difficulty, Mikel had us conduct our own balance tests using the Berg balance test method. The Berg test is a series of tasks that patients complete to test their balance. Tasks include sitting and standing unsupported, standing on one leg, and more. Based on their performance of those tasks, the person observing rates their abilities on a scale of 0-4. We partnered up and tested each other’s balance using this scale. We observed that it was difficult to score the patients, because the test is so subjective. Therefore, a more quantitative way to test balance must be developed.
We then visited Saioa and Mikel’s latest version of their Oreka-Balance machine. We saw an earlier version in the Hospital we visited, but this version was still under construction. They altered the design to improve accuracy and expand the testing options available. One major change was that there are now two smaller platforms (one for each foot), instead of the one larger platform. It was very interesting to test out and I am excited to hear about the finished product!
In the afternoon we visited the football stadium! (Or as we Americans like to say, the soccer stadium) It was a beautiful stadium and looked like it would be a lot of fun to go see a match at. Although we weren’t able to see a match, we still got to tour around the stadium. We even got to see the locker rooms, the press room, and even a museum about the team. Overall it was a super fun day!
