At-home balance game with musical biofeedback for older adults
Official title: Development of an at-home weight-shifting balance game with musical biofeedback for older adults
Funded at The Trustees of the Stevens Institute of Technology · NIH-11373903 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A home-based game uses musical biofeedback to help older adults practice weight-shifting and improve balance to reduce fall risk.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | The Trustees of the Stevens Institute of Technology NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Hoboken, United States) |
| Project start | June 9, 2026 |
| Project end | May 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $294,158 |
| NIH project number | 1R21EB037815-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11373903 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Older adults who have a home exercise program focused on weight-shifting and are willing to use a wearable sensor and home-based game.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without access to or comfort with wearable sensors and home-based technology may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project aims to help older adults practice balance skills at home by combining movement with engaging, music-driven feedback. A wearable sensor system will deliver real-time musical cues that reflect body movements, encouraging safer weight-shifting during everyday tasks. The approach blends cognitive challenge with physical training to boost motivation and adherence to a balance routine. The study will develop and test a wearable-enabled game platform that older adults can use outside clinical settings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could help older adults prevent falls by making balance practice more enjoyable and consistent at home.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work suggests gamified balance and biofeedback can improve balance, but this specific at-home musical biofeedback approach is innovative and exploratory.
Where this research is happening
-
The Trustees of the Stevens Institute of Technology
Hoboken, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zaferiou, Antonia — The Trustees of the Stevens Institute of Technology
- Study coordinator: Zaferiou, Antonia
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.