Real-time feedback of body center of gravity for postural training of elderly patients with peripheral neuropathy.

A system that estimates and displays, in real-time, the location of the center of gravity of the human body relative to the feet was developed and then used in a biofeedback training program for improving the postural instability caused by deterioration of the proprioceptive system in elderly patients with significant diabetic sensory neuropathy during perturbations of a support platform. Training sessions were scheduled three times a week for four weeks and consisted of continuous perturbations of the support platform for the standing subject. Postural stability of each subject was evaluated before, during and after training on a weekly basis. After twelve sessions of training, subjects who received visual feedback showed greater reduction in total number of falls and in fall magnitude defined by force in the body suspension cord, and longer delay in time between perturbation and fall than NFB group.