Variable-Hardness Walkable Board for Proprioceptive Balance Training
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Solution Overview
Problem
Parkinson's patients face challenges in motor skill development due to impaired coordination and balance, leading to lack of self-confidence and muscle atrophy, as existing aids like walkers do not adequately prepare them for varied surfaces, relying too heavily on visual stimuli rather than proprioception.
Innovation Solution
A walk-on board with a relief-like surface and varying hardness zones, made of rigid material with a flexible coating, which provides both visual and proprioceptive challenges by creating uneven surfaces with unpredictable hardness, encouraging independent adjustment and balance training.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a relief-like structure is added to the board surface, then visual stimuli and proprioceptive perception are promoted, but the surface becomes visually predictable and does not challenge proprioception sufficiently
Solution Approach 1:
The board surface is divided into zones with different hardness characteristics (softer zones and harder zones) while maintaining the relief-like topography. This local differentiation creates unpredictable tactile feedback under the foot, challenging proprioception without relying on visual cues, as the hardness variation cannot be detected visually but only through tactile sensation during movement.
2Reliability
If walkers or railings are used for support, then patients gain stability and confidence, but they become dependent on visual cues and do not develop independent proprioceptive adjustment
Solution Approach 1:
The board provides tactile feedback through varying hardness zones that are not visually detectable. As patients walk across the board, their feet encounter different resistance levels (softer vs. harder zones), creating unpredictable proprioceptive feedback that forces them to rely on tactile sensation and body awareness rather than visual prediction, thereby developing independent proprioceptive adjustment capability.
3Ease of manufacture
If the board surface is made uniformly hard, then manufacturing is simple, but it provides insufficient tactile variation for proprioceptive training
Solution Approach 1:
The board incorporates zones with different hardness characteristics (softer and harder areas) within the relief-like structure. This local quality variation provides rich tactile feedback for proprioceptive training while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure that can be manufactured using conventional techniques, thus balancing manufacturing ease with therapeutic effectiveness.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enhances motor skills and proprioceptive perception by forcing patients to rely on tactile feedback, improving balance and confidence beyond visual cues, as shown by studies, and addressing muscle atrophy through comprehensive sensory engagement.
Implementation Method 1
the plate is made of essentially rigid material with a coating of relatively more flexible material
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The plate (1) has an upper side provided with areas of different hardness, and chambers on lower side of the plate. Inserts (5) are insertable into the chambers, where hardness of the inserts is different from material of the remaining plate. The inserts are made of soft plastic, and are molded with a substance of the material, where the plate is made of plastic. The upper side is provided with relief-like structure, and a coating is made of an elastic material, which has a different hardness over a surface of the plate.