Launch of the Balance Metrix Pioneers Program

Balance Metrix is currently on the lookout for sports and vestibular professionals in the exercise physiology and physiotherapy disciplines who can help us establish the Balance Mat in allied health practice.

To support that goal we are currently offering suitable individuals or businesses complimentary use of a Multimetric Balance Mat for six months under the auspices of the Balance Metrix Pioneers Program.

One of our first Balance Metrix Pioneers is Hassan Qureshi – a tech-focused exercise physiologist from Holistic Exercise Physiology in Wentworthville, Western Sydney. I dropped in to see Hassan on the afternoon of Friday 16 November 2023.

During the visit I was very pleased to hear Hassan say he believed the Balance Mat could be a game-changer for his NDIS clients with neuromuscular disabilities and also for falls prevention in aged care.

Following my visit Hassan was able to test the balance of a thirteen-year-old client with cerebellar ataxia who had a history of frequent falls. The two graphs above show the erratic pattern of movement when the client stood on the Balance Mat.

Hassan explained it this way: “The graphs you see represent the movement – we call it postural sway – during two different tests. The first test is when the client stands with their feet apart (in normal stance) while the second test is in the tandem position (one foot in front of the other). Clearly you can see the client was a lot more unstable in the second test, as you would expect. Both are done as part of the same session – plus there’s single test stance on each leg too.”

“To appreciate the value of using the mat, you need to understand the previous method. That is for me to ask you to hold a position for 10 seconds and see whether or not you can. It’s simply a yes or no and provides no information about the quantity of sway, which is very valuable.”

This is a great start to our pioneers program. To experience Hassan’s enthusiasm about the system I’ve been developing for the past seven years was extremely gratifying.

Moving forward, the challenge will be for exercise physiology and physiotherapy practitioners across the board to gather, interpret and apply balance metrics in a consistent and meaningful way. That’s why we want to encourage as many people as possible in these allied health disciplines to start actually measuring their clients’ balance using a Balance Mat system rather than guessing.

For us, it will bring us that one step closer to the commercialisation of the Balance Mat technology. And for that we will be very grateful.

If you want to explore the synergies of becoming a Balance Metrix pioneer why not give me a call on 0457 123 852 or email my business manager Margaret Metz at margaret@balancemetrix.com.au.