Balance Quest is the only truly dynamic platform available. When the platform center support is released from it's static position, the Balance Quest platform essentially floats on a spring suspension allowing dynamic motion with 6 degrees of freedom of movement. This dynamic freedom more accurately mimics natural conditions that disturb proprioceptive information.
The platform allows linear movement in X (forward/backward); Y (side to side); and Z (up/down) planes. In addition, there are three axes of angular movement allowed: Yaw (twist clockwise / counterclockwise); Pitch (tilt forward / backward); Roll (tilt left / right). The Balance Quest software measures center of pressure in the X, Y, and Z planes plus pitch and roll axes for unparalleled information about the direction and amplitude of sway.
The information allows you to identify fall risk factors, work related dysequilibrium, and malingering in addition to assessing whether your patient's balance disorder is due to misinformation or misinterpretation of sensory and motor inputs and his/her ability to suppress information that is inaccurate.
Features
Sensory Organization Test (SOT) with 6 conditions
Three degrees of freedom with pneumatic control for unstable platform
Rehabilitation protocols for vestibular and orthopedic patients
Four-point safety harness to catch patients in the event of falling
Limit of Stability Test (LOS) that analyzes the patient’s ability to lean forward, backward, and to the sides in relation to standing stable in the center position.
| Eyes Open | Eyes Closed | Visual Disorientation |
Stable | A | B | C |
| Unstable | D |
E | F |
Sensory Organization Test Table
Options:
The Balance Quest OKN is used during conditions C & F of the SOT test protocol as well as during rehabilitation to strengthen equilibrium function. This option works best when a darkened room can be dedicated to Balance Quest posturography. The Optokinetic stimulation interferes with the VOR (vestibular - ocular reflex) by means of visual perturbation, which in turn may confound postural control.
Virtual Environment Glasses for testing patients without enclosed rooms:
These glasses can present the patient with a variety of computer controlled stimuli within a virtual reality environment. Stimuli may appear sway referenced and/or optokinetic in nature. These glasses are ideal for conditions C & F of the sensory organization test and for use during rehabilitation when a darkened room is not available. Visual stimuli the size of a 52-inch television screen is produced in pitch or roll directions to give a sense of rotation.
Subjective Visual Vertical (SVV) for assessment and rehabilitation:
The SVV device permits an object measurement of vertical perceived by the subject, especially for patients with otolith loss. The patient can orient the laser to his perceived vertical, while the readout gives the angle from true vertical. During rehabilitation the platform is lilted and the laser stripe is aligned with the platform. As the platform is gradually returned to its stable position, the patient is retrained to compensate for the unilateral loss.
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