San Francisco, CA (January 11, 2013) – Up to 85% of people with Multiple Sclerosis (MS/ PwMS) have difficulty with balance and mobility. Physical therapy is often prescribed as a treatment for symptoms related to loss of balance and mobility. Recently Dr. Gail Widener of Samuel Merritt University and Dr. Diane Allen of University of California San Francisco and San Francisco State University completed data collection for the first phase of their NIH grant studying the effect of Balance-Based Torso-Weighting on gait and quiet standing in 20 Pw MS and 20 healthy controls.
Balance-Based Torso-Weighting® (BBTW) is a non-pharmaceutical intervention in which patients wear light weights on the trunk. The weights are placed strategically to improve balance. Preliminary findings in the current study support previous work showing increased gait speed with BBTW. Clinical practice with this intervention has showed good response in improving balance and mobility in adults and children with various diagnoses, including MS, Parkinson’s Disease, Ataxia, Cerebral palsy, and traumatic brain injury.
Therapist training in the application of BBTW is provided to clinicians through Motion Therapeutics, Inc.. Currently, trained physical therapists practice in the following states: California, North Dakota, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, New York, Connecticut and Delaware.
Cynthia Gibson-Horn, PT, the inventor of BBTW, will be demonstrating this intervention at the Combined Sections Meeting for the APTA in San Diego, January 21 – 24, 2013. She will be at booth 1535, for Motion Therapeutics, the producer of BBTW garments, known as BalanceWear.
Ms. Gibson-Horn says: “It gives me great satisfaction to bring a product that helps people every day achieve better quality of life through improvement in ability. We continue to learn daily more about the positive effects of BalanceWear and BBTW.” Steve Cookston, CEO of Motion Therapeutics stated “It is so rewarding to see such dramatic improvement in so many severely balance challenged individuals the minute BalanceWear is applied. It’s a thrill each and every time.” Cookston added further “We are proud to offer this new balance improvement tool to physical therapists as they strive to improve the quality of life of their patients.”
MTI provides innovative, non-invasive wearable postural control and balance stabilizing products that may help individuals with mobility and balance issues.
The company's patented BalanceWear® series of Truncal Orthosis vests and patented Balance-Based Torso-Weighting Methodology (BBTW®) was developed to provide help to patients balance and mobility disorders by stabilizing the trunk.
Many older individuals and those persons with neurological conditions may have a loss of postural control and compromised balance as a symptom of a medical condition. BalanceWear may be helpful for such conditions.
NOTE: BalanceWear is not a medical treatment or cure for any disease.