Follow our health intervention - pre and post check-ups of balance and orientation

Follow us - strengthen mental performance together!

Many people want to maintain their mental fitness and prevent cognitive decline.
To achieve this, we are conducting a new study with several innovative approaches: We are investigating how various interventions have a positive impact on cognitive performance – and cordially invite you to follow our scientific journey.

Today: Assessment of Balance and Orientation

Orientation, i.e., the ability to orient ourselves in space, time, and situations, is not a simple sensory performance, but a cognitive integration process that connects many brain areas. We need to see and hear attentively, memorize, remember, and make decisions. The balance system is also a highly complex interplay of the vestibular apparatus in the inner ear, sensory and motor stimuli, and simultaneous mental processing. Even minor disturbances can affect orientation and stability in everyday life. As part of our study, we conduct extensive assessments before and after the intervention to determine the current state of our participants' sense of balance and orientation and to precisely and objectively record any subsequent changes associated with the training program. We use modern measurement technologies:

• Motion Trackers: Special sensors capture the subtlest movements and swaying of the body. They provide precise data on postural control, reaction speed, and range of motion.

• Wii BAlance Board: The platform measures pressure and weight shifts of the feet. This allows us to analyze stability in different positions or during specific tasks – a playful yet scientifically sound approach.

• Virtual Reality (VR): Using VR headsets, participants immerse themselves in realistic scenarios that specifically challenge the balance system. In a virtual environment, we can vary visual and spatial stimuli in a controlled manner, thus examining how well participants orient themselves and adapt to changing conditions.

So, when we train our balance and orientation, we also train our attention, memory, and mental flexibility — important functions for mental fitness and stability.

Stay active!

We conduct research in an area that is important to all of us: the maintenance and promotion of mental health. At the same time, we want to inspire you to pursue a physically, mentally, and socially active lifestyle. Look forward to further postings from our intervention study!

Pictures Melitta Schubert/UMMD