Foot sole two-partition variable-damping supporting force measuring table for posture balance evaluation

Abstract

The invention discloses a sole two-partition variable damping supporting force measuring table for posture balance evaluation, which comprises a heel force measuring unit, a sole force measuring unit, a universal spherical hinge and a bottom plate, and is characterized in that the heel force measuring unit and the sole force measuring unit are mounted on the bottom plate; the heel force measuring unit and the sole force measuring unit are the same in structure and each comprise a force measuring assembly plate and an air bag, the force measuring assembly plates are fixedly connected to the tops of the air bags, and the bottoms of the air bags are fixedly connected to the bottom plate. According to the invention, a support table formed by a variable-rigidity air bag is introduced into the field of human body balance evaluation, namely, a variable damping technology, so that the support force measuring table can automatically adapt to a damping value coefficient with corresponding difficulty for subjects or crowds with different balance capacities; on one hand, a supporting surface condition with variable and controllable rigidity is provided, and a classical balance evaluation variable is adopted for evaluation; on the other hand, the critical damping value capable of maintaining standing can also be used as a new balance evaluation indirect index.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of measurement and relates to variable damping support force measurement technology, specifically a foot two-zone variable damping support force measurement platform for posture balance assessment. Background Technology

[0002] In the field of human balance research, motion platforms capable of providing various support surface conditions are indispensable. Conventional testing movements, such as static and self-dynamic exercises, struggle to provide balance conditions of appropriate difficulty. Nashner et al. in the United States pioneered research on foot support surface perturbation platforms, combining an electric base and a force-measuring table for dynamic balance measurement. However, this research was limited to passive perturbation modes and lacked studies on the quantitative adjustment of balance control difficulty—akin to failing to provide test-takers with appropriately challenging questions. Therefore, existing balance assessment methods and corresponding support platforms are still unable to obtain the upper limit of balance ability, yielding only a value within that limit, often with randomness. This is likely a key reason for the poor consistency of existing balance assessment variables. Therefore, research is needed on methods and support platforms that can achieve the assessment of the upper limit of balance ability.

[0003] Under the current standard of a fixed support platform, it is relatively easy for subjects to maintain balance, and the measured value is only a random value within the limits of their balance ability. Therefore, controllable techniques for support conditions that can stimulate subjects to maintain their balance limit are equally important in the field of balance assessment.

[0004] Conventional balance function tests conducted under static, dynamic, and perturbation conditions may result in insufficient participation or inability to complete the tests, making it difficult to obtain the upper limit of the subjects' balance ability. The subjects' performance is random, leading to poor consistency of assessment variables. Summary of the Invention

[0005] This invention aims to at least solve one of the technical problems existing in the prior art; to this end, this invention proposes a foot-mounted two-zone variable damping support force measuring platform for postural balance assessment to solve the technical problem of poor consistency. This invention solves the above-mentioned problem by providing different standing difficulty conditions through variable stiffness airbags, thereby improving the subject's active participation and obtaining the upper limit of the subject's balance ability.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, a first aspect of the present invention provides a two-zone variable damping support force measuring platform for postural balance assessment, comprising a heel force measuring unit, a foot force measuring unit, a universal ball joint and a base plate, wherein the heel force measuring unit and the foot force measuring unit are mounted on the base plate. Both the heel force measuring unit and the forefoot force measuring unit include a force measuring plate and an airbag; The universal ball joint has at least two parts, with the corresponding force measuring plates of the heel force measuring unit and the ball of the foot force measuring unit respectively located in the middle between the base plate and the base plate, and the force measuring plates corresponding to the heel force measuring unit and the ball of the foot force measuring unit are movable support. The airbag is positioned between the force measuring plate and the base plate; the force measuring plate is fixedly connected to the top of the airbag, and the bottom of the airbag is fixedly connected to the base plate. The airbag is equipped with an inflation / deflation nozzle, which is connected to a pressure regulating device via a pipe. The pressure regulating device is used to adjust the air pressure inside the airbag, thereby adjusting the stiffness of the airbag. The stiffness of the airbag is used to assess the balance ability of the subject.

[0007] A method for using a two-zone variable damping support force platform for postural balance assessment, wherein two force platforms are used together, with each foot stepping on one of the two force platforms respectively, including: Step 1: Have the subject place both feet on the heel force measurement unit and the ball of the foot force measurement unit of the two force measurement platforms, and use measuring tools to measure to ensure that the length D of the part of the foot to be measured on the heel force measurement unit is 39% of the total length L of the foot to be measured. Step 2: Adjust the airbag pressure to change the airbag stiffness, provide support surface conditions with different standing difficulty, and assess the balance ability of the subjects according to the difficulty. Step 3: The airbag stiffness decreases linearly, and the minimum airbag stiffness value at which the subject can maintain balance is used as a new indicator for assessing balance ability.

[0008] A foot-mounted two-zone variable damping support force table for postural balance assessment is applied to balance ability evaluation.

[0009] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are: This invention introduces a support platform composed of variable stiffness airbags into the field of human balance assessment, namely variable damping technology. The support platform can automatically adapt to the damping coefficient of the corresponding difficulty for subjects or groups with different balance abilities. On the one hand, it provides support surface conditions with variable and controllable stiffness, and uses classic balance assessment variables for evaluation. On the other hand, the critical damping value that can maintain standing can also serve as a new indirect indicator of balance assessment.

[0010] This invention explores the upper limit of balance capability by considering a holistic coupling model between the human body and the supporting platform. The variable damping technology employed in this invention can stimulate the ultimate level of balance capability. Attached Figure Description

[0011] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0012] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the present invention.

[0013] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the force measuring plate structure in this invention.

[0014] Figure 3 This is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of the airbag in this invention.

[0015] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the universal ball joint in this invention. Detailed Implementation

[0016] The technical solution of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the embodiments. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0017] Please see Figure 1-4 Figure 1 shows a first aspect embodiment of the present invention providing a foot two-zone variable damping support force measuring platform for posture balance assessment, including a heel force measuring unit 1, a foot force measuring unit 2, a universal ball joint 3, and a base plate 4. The heel force measuring unit 1 and the foot force measuring unit 2 are installed on the base plate 4. When using this structure to perform posture balance assessment, it is ensured that the length D of the part of the foot to be tested located on the heel force measuring unit 1 is 39% of the total length L of the foot to be tested, that is, D=0.39L.

[0018] The heel force measuring unit 1 and the foot force measuring unit 2 have the same structure, both including a force measuring plate 11 and an airbag 12. The force measuring plate 11 is fixedly connected to the top of the airbag 12, and the bottom of the airbag 12 is fixedly connected to the base plate 4. At the same time, the airbag 12 is an annular airbag, that is, the center of the airbag 12 is provided with a hollow.

[0019] A universal ball joint 3 is provided at the hollowed-out position in the middle of the airbag 12. The two ends of the universal ball joint 3 are connected to the force measuring plate 11 and the base plate 4 respectively, so as to movably support the force measuring plate 11. The universal ball joint 3 allows the force measuring plate 11 to rotate at a certain angle in multiple directions relative to the base plate 4. A variable stiffness airbag 12 is provided below the force measuring plate 11 to realize the evaluation of the balance capacity under damping changes.

[0020] On the other hand, the universal ball joint 3 can also be located inside the airbag 12, with the top of the universal ball joint 3 extending out of the airbag 12 and connecting to the force measuring plate 11 to movably support the force measuring plate 11.

[0021] The force measuring plate 11 includes an upper force measuring plate 111, a pressure sensor 112, and a lower plate 113. The pressure sensor 112 is fixedly connected between the upper force measuring plate 111 and the lower plate 113. There are four pressure sensors 112, which are respectively located near the four corners of the upper force measuring plate 111.

[0022] The universal ball joint 3 includes a ball head seat 31, a ball head 32, and a screw 33. The main body of the ball head seat 31 is a columnar structure and its lower end is fixedly connected to a flange. The flange is fixedly connected to the base plate 4 by bolts. A hemispherical groove is opened at the upper end of the ball head seat 31. The radius of the hemispherical groove is the same as that of the ball head 32. The ball head 32 is rotatably set in the hemispherical groove. One end of the screw 33 is connected to the surface of the ball head 32. The axis of the screw 33 is perpendicular to the center of the ball head 32.

[0023] The airbag 12 is equipped with an inflation / deflation nozzle, which is connected to a pressure regulating device via a pipe. The pressure regulating device includes a three-way valve and an inflation pump. The inflation / deflation nozzle is connected to the inflation pump via the three-way valve to control inflation and deflation. The three-way valve can be a solenoid valve. The three-way valve is connected to a gas flow meter at the deflation port and the air inlet connected to the inflation pump to detect the gas flow rate during inflation and deflation. At the same time, a barometer is also connected between the inflation / deflation nozzle of the airbag 12 and the three-way valve. The barometer is used to monitor the air pressure inside the airbag to control the stiffness of the airbag (i.e., variable damping control) and meet the needs of assessing the balance ability of the subject under different airbag stiffnesses.

[0024] The PLC controller acquires signals generated by pressure sensor 112, gas flow meter and barometer, and reads the data through a display connected to the PLC controller.

[0025] A method for using a two-zone variable damping support force platform for postural balance assessment, wherein two force platforms are used together, with each foot stepping on one of the two force platforms respectively, including: Step 1: Have the subject place both feet on the heel measuring unit 1 and the ball of the foot measuring unit 2 of the two force measuring platforms. Through human measurement, ensure that the length D of the part of the foot to be tested located on the heel measuring unit 1 is 39% of the total length L of the foot to be tested. Step 2: Adjust the gas content in airbag 12, change the air pressure in airbag 12, provide support surface conditions with different standing difficulty, and assess the balance ability of the subject according to the difficulty, that is, the subject actively adjusts the body balance according to the change of airbag stiffness. Step 3: The airbag stiffness decreases linearly, and the minimum airbag stiffness value at which the subject can maintain balance is used as a new indicator for assessing balance ability. Specifically, the linear relationship between the airbag stiffness and the airbag pressure can be expressed as Formula 1: ;(Formula 1) in, For airbag stiffness, The airbag pressure (measured directly by a barometer). The structural constants of the airbag (determined by the annular size, wall thickness, elastic modulus, etc. of the airbag, and obtained through calibration experiments).

[0026] The above airbag pressure The larger the airbag, the stiffer it is. The larger the surface, the "rigid" the support; conversely, The smaller, The smaller the airbag stiffness, the "softer" the support surface, and the more difficult it is for the subject to maintain balance. Therefore, the minimum stiffness value of the airbag that allows the subject to maintain balance is used as a new indicator for assessing balance ability. Specifically, this is achieved by deflating the inflated airbag to reduce its pressure. The minimum stiffness of the airbag is the point at which the subject loses balance.

[0027] Furthermore, the criteria for determining the critical point at which the subject loses balance can be obtained from the changes in the values ​​detected by the pressure sensors at the four corners of a single force-measuring plate 11, i.e., pressure fluctuations. The data is defined, as specifically expressed in Formula 2: ;(Formula 2) Pressure fluctuations were recorded separately in four areas: the soles and heels of both feet. .

[0028] Specifically, when the airbag stiffness K is large (airbag pressure) At high altitudes, the support surface is stable, and the subject's posture fluctuates little. The magnitude of the changes (such as pressure center offset, instantaneous pressure fluctuation value, etc.) is small and the distribution is more concentrated; When airbag stiffness Smaller (airbag pressure) When the airbag stiffness (K) is low, the support surface is soft and easily deformed. The subject needs to adjust their center of gravity to counteract the swaying caused by the change in airbag stiffness (K). The magnitude of change has increased significantly, and the distribution is more dispersed; Through pressure fluctuations The dynamic change in the pressure sensor readings is characterized by its correlation with airbag stiffness. air pressure The relationship can be expressed as formula 3: ;(Formula 3) That is, to obtain pressure fluctuations through pressure sensors. This directly demonstrates the airbag stiffness from a data perspective. The process by which subjects dynamically adjust their balance under changing conditions provides data for balance assessment.

[0029] The above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical methods of the present invention and are not intended to limit it. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications or equivalent substitutions can be made to the technical methods of the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the technical methods of the present invention.

Claims

1. A bipartite variable-damper foot support force platform for postural balance assessment, characterized in that, It comprises a heel force measuring unit, a sole force measuring unit, a universal ball hinge and a base plate, and the heel force measuring unit and the sole force measuring unit are mounted on the base plate; The heel force measuring unit and the sole force measuring unit each comprise a force group plate and an air bag; The universal ball hinge is provided at least twice, and is arranged at the middle part between the force group plate corresponding to the heel force measuring unit and the sole force measuring unit and the base plate, and movably supports the force group plate corresponding to the heel force measuring unit and the sole force measuring unit; The air bag is arranged between the force group plate and the base plate, and the force group plate is fixedly connected to the top of the air bag, and the bottom of the air bag is fixedly connected to the base plate; The air bag is provided with a gas filling and discharging nozzle, and the gas filling and discharging nozzle is connected to a gas pressure adjusting device through a pipeline, and the gas pressure adjusting device is used for adjusting the gas pressure in the air bag, so as to adjust the rigidity of the air bag; the rigidity of the air bag is used for evaluating the balance ability of the subject.

2. A bipartite variable damping foot support force platform for postural balance assessment according to claim 1, characterized in that, The universal ball hinge is located in the air bag, the top of the universal ball hinge extends out of the air bag and is connected to the force group plate to movably support the force group plate; the air bag is provided with an elastic framework, and the elastic framework limits the inclination angle of the force group plate.

3. A bipartite variable damping foot support force platform for postural balance assessment according to claim 1, wherein, The air bag is a ring-shaped air bag; the universal ball hinge is arranged at the hollowed-out position in the middle part of the air bag, and the two ends of the universal ball hinge are connected to the force group plate and the base plate respectively; the air bag is provided with an elastic framework, and the elastic framework limits the inclination angle of the force group plate.

4. A bipartite variable damping foot support force platform for postural balance assessment according to claim 1, wherein, The force group plate comprises an upper force plate, a pressure sensor and a lower layer plate, and the pressure sensor is fixedly connected between the upper force plate and the lower layer plate.

5. A bipartite variable damping foot support force platform for postural balance assessment according to claim 4, wherein, The pressure sensor has four and is arranged at the positions close to the four corners of the upper force plate.

6. A bipartite variable damping foot support force platform for postural balance assessment according to claim 1, wherein, The universal ball hinge comprises a ball head seat, a ball head and a screw rod, the main body of the ball head seat is in a columnar structure, and the lower end of the ball head seat is fixedly connected to a flange plate, the flange plate is fixedly connected to the base plate through bolts, the upper end of the ball head seat is provided with a semispherical recess, the radius of the semispherical recess is the same as that of the ball head, the ball head is rotatably arranged in the semispherical recess, one end of the screw rod is connected to the surface of the ball head, and the axis of the screw rod is perpendicular to the center of the ball head.

7. A method of using a bipartite plantar variable-damper support force platform for postural balance assessment, characterized in that, When used, the two force platforms are used together, and the left and right feet are respectively stepped on the two force platforms, which comprises: Step one, let the subject's feet step on the heel force measuring unit and the sole force measuring unit of the two force platforms, use the measuring tool to measure, and ensure that the length D of the part of the foot on the heel force measuring unit is 39% of the total length L of the foot to be measured, and the two feet are placed according to the standard; Step two, adjust the air bag pressure to change the air bag rigidity, provide different standing difficulty support surface conditions, and evaluate the balance ability of the subject according to the difficulty; Step three, linearly reduce the air bag rigidity, and take the minimum rigidity value of the air bag that the subject can keep balance as a new index for evaluating the balance ability.

8. A method of using a bimodal variable damping support force platform for postural balance assessment according to claim 7, wherein, The relationship between the air bag pressure and the air bag rigidity is: ； wherein, is the airbag stiffness, is the airbag pressure, is the structural constant of the airbag.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the foot is placed on the plantar bizonal variable damping support force platform with the foot in a standing position. The airbag minimum rigidity value is obtained based on fluctuation pressure obtained by a pressure sensor , fluctuation pressure , airbag air pressure , and airbag rigidity are expressed as: 。 10. A foot bottom two-part variable damping support force platform for posture balance evaluation is applied to balance ability evaluation.

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