Explore Correlation Between Body Balance and Perception using mHealth Technology

Body balance and perception have been shown to be linked in a number of studies, ranging from plasma membrane calcium ATPase isoform PMCA2 deficiency causing both balance and hearing problems in mice to MS (multiple sclerosis) patients' loss of foot sole sensitivity correlating with compromised balance. This project involved developing a system that tests balance as well as hearing using Augmented Reality (AR) and mobile health (mHealth) technology. Four balance tests are included in the AR application; three are from Smart Balance Master (Limits of Stability, Rhythmic Weight Shift, Sit to Stand), and the fourth is a modified Single Leg Stand with 32 sensory conditions. Hearing is tested within the same application through beeps played sequentially at frequencies of 500 Hertz, 1000 Hertz, 2000 Hertz, 4000 Hertz, and 8000 Hertz for each ear. The first volume level they are played at is less than 10 Hertz and this can be sequentially increases in increments of 10 decibels up to 100 decibels until the player can hear the beep; this volume level is recorded. The application is meant to be used with Wearable Gait Lab (WGL), an underfoot plantar pressure unit. The user wears Microsoft HoloLens (which runs the AR application) and WGL (which records balance data); experimental data is analyzed for a correlation between perception and balance in ten young adults as a proof of model.