Overview
The Balance Platform is the culmination of research into physical rehabilitation for stroke survivors. The design improves the experience of balance rehabilitation, providing users with a safe and secure environment for their exercises. It caters to users' needs with a refined wobble board design that is easier to stand on, as well as a set of armrests that help users support themselves independently.
Stroke
In Australia, stroke was the cause of over 6% of all deaths in 2020. 27,428 new strokes occurred – one stroke every 19 minutes – and over 440,000 people were still suffering through the aftereffects of having had a stroke.
Stroke rehabilitation is a complex, multifaceted process that is different for every stroke survivor. Depending on the intensity of the stroke, and other factors, a survivor can experience their own unique set of impairments. For many, these impairments can involve various symptoms: reduced strength in their arms and legs; a loss of sensation in their upper limbs; arm activity impairment; reduced fitness; difficulty with sitting, standing, and the transition between the two positions; and walking. Rehabilitation involves the treatment and management of these impairments, to help the survivor reclaim their body.
Stroke rehabilitation is a complex, multifaceted process that is different for every stroke survivor. Depending on the intensity of the stroke, and other factors, a survivor can experience their own unique set of impairments. For many, these impairments can involve various symptoms: reduced strength in their arms and legs; a loss of sensation in their upper limbs; arm activity impairment; reduced fitness; difficulty with sitting, standing, and the transition between the two positions; and walking. Rehabilitation involves the treatment and management of these impairments, to help the survivor reclaim their body.
The Balance Platform
Board
Wobble boards are common tools for balance rehabilitation. By building control over their movements on the unstable surface, the user can improve their balance and begin to develop strength and confidence. The challenge is that this places someone who already has difficulty standing upright on to an unstable surface – where they will be even less confident. This can be dangerous, and a truly negative experience.
The Balance Platform provides a positive experience through the use of a large wobble board with a number of user-friendly features.
The Balance Platform provides a positive experience through the use of a large wobble board with a number of user-friendly features.
The wide, shallow dome on the underside of the board makes it easier to control. Unlike smaller boards that let users tilt them with their ankles, users need to use their legs and core to move their centre of gravity before they can tilt the board.
There is also a subtle flat surface at the apex of the dome. This gives the dome increased stability when users are mounting & dismounting the board. It also has a prominent grip texture to ensure users can’t slide off of it.
There is also a subtle flat surface at the apex of the dome. This gives the dome increased stability when users are mounting & dismounting the board. It also has a prominent grip texture to ensure users can’t slide off of it.
The middle of the board has a shallow, sealed pit that contains 4 marbles. This fascinator gives users a point of feedback, with the marbles drifting back and forth as they tilt the board. The segmented base of the fascinator can also be used to define tasks and challenges – users may attempt to move the marbles back and forth between segments, or they may try to collect all of the marbles into a single segment.
Base
The base is a key component of the balance platform. It provides a stage for the wobble board, as well as securing the frame and armrests.
The stage has been placed lower than the rest of the base to make the board more accessible to users that can’t step very high.
The frame is held to the base by four widely spaced clamps. Their strength and spacing keep the frame and armrests very secure and makes it safe for the users to move around and lean against them.
The stage has been placed lower than the rest of the base to make the board more accessible to users that can’t step very high.
The frame is held to the base by four widely spaced clamps. Their strength and spacing keep the frame and armrests very secure and makes it safe for the users to move around and lean against them.
Armrests
The armrests have been designed to provide the user with support and let them use the Balance Platform with confidence. Both armrests can be raised or lowered independently to cater to users of different sizes and users with different physical needs.
They have also been given an emphasised contour on the upper surface to allow users to lean into them without worrying about their arms sliding off.
They have also been given an emphasised contour on the upper surface to allow users to lean into them without worrying about their arms sliding off.
Frame
As well as being designed for strength and stability, the frame of the Balance Platform has been designed to be completely collapsible. This makes the Balance Platform suitable for storage and easy to transport.
Prototyping
The prototyping process for the Balance Platform was an adventure that took multiple months, used very little 3D printing and required the use of a diverse set of prototyping techniques.
