Balance disorders are a serious health concern impacting a large percentage of the population. Modern technology is offering hope to these individuals. The same technology used to measure equilibrium in NASA shuttle crews pre-and post-flight is now assisting seniors with balance–related problems at Saint Therese. The NeuroCom EquiTest assessment and rehabilitation system, available in the Saint Therese Balance Clinic, is the most advanced balance and mobility assessment and treatment equipment available. What’s more, Saint Therese is the only nursing home or senior apartment community in the Midwest with this sophisticated equipment and highly-specialized staff.
Residents and tenants at Saint Therese with balance, mobility and/or dizziness problems are tested on the EquiTest machine, which consists of a highly sensitive force plate connected to a computer. The force plate measures the participant’s center of gravity and weight-bearing symmetry as he or she performs various tasks. These tests can isolate the different senses that contribute to balance control and help identify the participant’s balance problem. The data provided by the tests aids Saint Therese staff in developing the best treatment plan for each individual.’
