This grant comes after the completion of a similar randomized controlled trial which was funded by the National MS Society. The NIH study, being led by Drs. Gail Widener, PT, Ph.D and Diane Allen, PT, Ph.D utilizes the BalanceWear technology invented by Cynthia Gibson-Horn, PT.

“Patients with MS suffer from imbalance and decreased mobility resulting in adverse quality of life changes,” said Gibson-Horn. “In clinical practice I noticed patients having specific balance losses while struggling to complete daily tasks. I developed the BBTW method and stabilizing garment to help patients rebalance and regain control. The NIH study will provide more scientific evidence supporting this balance treatment.” Gibson-Horn has worked with strategic BBTW™ treatment therapy with over 400 patients.

“We are delighted by the dramatic patient balance and mobility improvements achieved when utilizing our BBTW treatment therapy,” said Steve Cookston, Motion Therapeutics’ CEO. The therapy relies on a trained clinician performing the BBTW™ assessment test and utilizing the BalanceWear vest to strategically place light weights on the torso of the body.

Meet Cynthia Gibson-Horn, PT, inventor of the BBTW™ treatment therapy in New York at the Annual MS Family Discovery Day on March 19, 2011. Motion Therapeutics will be providing live demonstrations. Schedule an appointment with Cynthia by emailing cindy@motiontherapeutics.com.

Gibson-Horn will also be teaching the BBTW™ method to therapists at the International MS Center in New York on March 20, 2011. To sign up please visit: http://www.motiontherapeutics.com/seminars. Input MTI100 to receive priority registration.

About Motion Therapeutics, Inc.

Motion Therapeutics, Inc., developers of the BalanceWear range of therapeutic garments, provides noninvasive therapeutic solutions for balance and mobility disorders caused by MS, Parkinson’s, Head Trauma, Osteoporosis, and Ataxia, to name a few. Balance-Based Torso-Weighting® is a proprietary evaluation and treatment therapy designed by Cynthia Gibson-Horn, PT in 2004. Motion Therapeutics, Inc. was founded in 2010 and has offices in Oakland, Oxnard and San Francisco.

Motion Therapeutics will be participating in the annual conference and exhibition of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) on June 16th – 19th at the John B. Hynes Veterans Memorial Convention Center in Boston.  This year will mark the first time the association opens the exhibit hall to the public – June 19th from 10 am to 1 pm.

“We were greatly encouraged by the strong interest in our newly introduced BalanceWear BBTW® re-balancing technology,” says Steve Cookston, President & CEO of Motion Therapeutics, Inc.  “Observing the instantaneous improvement in the balance and walking ability of users was deeply gratifying for me and our entire team.”

Invented and developed by Physical Therapist Cindy Gibson-Horn, the BalanceWear garment is worn as a vest incorporating Balance-Based Torso-Weighting™ (BBTW™), patented technology providing stability for patients affected by many forms of balance loss.  For those who suffer from balance disorders, it can be liberating.

“We had several people who have MS expressed interest in trying BalanceWear during the program,” says Gibson-Horn.  “Once properly fitted for each individual, balance and mobility improved immediately.”

Clinicians who provide patients with BalanceWear therapeutic garments will be required to learn the BBTW technology in order to properly assess and fit each patient.  Objective tests and measures, as well as patterns of weighting the torso according to patient specific balance loss, are required for proper function.   Fit is exclusive to each patient.

“The BalanceWear BBTW® re-balancing technology has been under development and has evolved over the past nine years; I was thrilled to see immediate therapeutic responses from those who evaluated our balance stability garments,” adds Gibson-Horn.

Balance-Based Torso-Weighting™ method was developed to correct and support balance disorders associated with Multiple Sclerosis (MS), brain injuries, Parkinson’s disease, and stroke as well as other destabilizing health issues.  The BalanceWear stabilizing devices assist in postural orientation and equilibrium, abnormal automatic postural control responses, and directional postural control dysfunction.

Motion Therapeutics Inc. provides non-invasive therapeutic solutions for MS and other balance and mobility disorders. The company’s patented sensory device technology utilizes the Balance-Based Torso-Weighting(tm) (BBTW) method of strategic weighting in a therapeutic, fashionable garment. Once fitted with the BBTW garment, clients often achieve immediate improvement in their ambulatory ability.  For more information, contact Motion Therapeutics at 310-471-4619 or visit http://www.motiontherapeutics.com/.  Gibson-Horn’s blog can be found at BalanceWear.wordpress.com.

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Current treatment for balance impairment and balance disorders include aggressive exercise. While recovery time varies depending on the patient, some require long-term assistance and years of treatment.  By comparison, patients are noticing “same day” results with the new BalanceWear devices.

“BalanceWear stabilizing devices address directional loss of balance, improving equilibrium, balance and mobility immediately upon application,” says Cindy Gibson-Horn PT who invented the BalanceWear stabilizing garments.  “Using objective tests and measures as well as patterns of weighting the torso according to balance loss, trained professionals can custom fit the garment and weights exclusive to each patient need.”

Gibson-Horn, et all evidence based research findings have been published in several medical periodicals including the Journal of Neurologic Physical Therapy, Archives of Physical Medicine, and Journal of Neuro-rehabilitation and Neural Repair featuring functional improvement of patients with ataxia, multiple sclerosis, and parietal stroke.

Balance-Based Torso-Weighting method was developed to correct and support balance disorders associated with Multiple Sclerosis (MS), brain injuries, Parkinson’s disease, and stroke as well as other destabilizing health issues.  The BalanceWear stabilizing devices assist in postural orientation and equilibrium, abnormal automatic postural control responses, and directional postural control dysfunction.

Motion Therapeutics Inc. provides non-invasive therapeutic solutions for MS and other balance and mobility disorders. The company’s patented sensory device technology utilizes its patented Balance-Based Torso-Weighting (BBTW) method of strategic weighting in therapeutic, fashionable garments. Once fitted with the BBTW garment, clients often achieve immediate improvement in their ambulatory ability.

For more information, contact Motion Therapeutics at 310-471-4619.

Download release (pdf format)

Download release (MS Word .docx format)