PIPSS - A Portable Instrument Postural Stability System to Assess Dynamic Postural Stability

The most common method to assess postural stability involves the use of a force plate to measure changes in center of pressure (COP)(Duarte et al 2010). The high cost of this technology limits practicality and accessibility for widespread use outside of major clinical centers. There is an emerging trend toward video game use as a means of increasing patient engagement in rehabilitation interventions. This trend is primarily driven by the newest generation of consumer console systems which use motion-based controls (e.g. Nintendo Wii and WiiFit). We have developed and tested PIPSS, a system that utilizes the Nintendo Wii balance board to quantify COP during simple static and more complex dynamic balance tasks. This low cost, accessible postural stability assessment system could be easily deployed in clinics, sport and athletic centers, training rooms, schools or elderly care facilities to provide a quantitative metric of postural control. Such information would allow for more timely assessment and intervention, improved return to play guidelines in athletes, or balance and fall interventions in care centers for the elderly. Current work includes analyses and interpretation of the PIPSS testing protocols with existing balance measures in children and adults with Cerebral Palsy, and concussion.