Weighting garments and orthotics for improving balance

Abstract

Weighting garment and orthotics are provided for improving balance. In particular, adjustable balance evaluation systems are used to determine placement of a weight to improve a subject's balance. These evaluation systems may be used to create customized garments for enhancing or improving balance. Described herein are customized garments for enhancing balance. Methods of creating customized garments enhance balance from the adjustable balance evaluation systems. Methods and apparatus further include eyeglasses with weights and testing methods to improve vision.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An apparatus for stimulating a patient's sensory system, comprising:
 a garment made of a flexible and wearable material, and configured to be worn on the patient's torso and comprising an inner and an outer surface, the garment capable of receiving one or more stimuli over a plurality of immediately adjacent and continuous positions; 
 one or more repositionable stimuli capable of sensorially stimulating the patient and configured to attach to the garment; and 
 at least one removable insert in an insert pocket within the garment for supporting the patient's back, the insert comprising a shape to physically support the patient's back and being relatively rigid compared to the garment material. 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising belt. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the belt further comprises means for coupling to a front panel for accommodating a removable insert. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the belt wraps around the insert in the garment, wherein the belt is removably threaded through a pair of openings defined on either side of the insert pocket. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is comprised of at least two side components and a back component removably coupled together at a plurality of immediately adjacent and continuous positions. 
     
     
       6. A method of improving a subject's vision, comprising:
 (a) evaluating the subject's vision; 
 (b) stimulating the subject's ocular system by attaching one or more repositionable stimuli to a device worn by the subject; 
 (c) reevaluating the subject's vision; 
 (d) comparing the subject's vision in (c) to the subject's vision in (a); and 
 (e) repeating (b)-(d) until the subject's vision shows improvement after the comparison in (d). 
 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 6 , wherein the device is a garment. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7 , wherein the garment is cap, headband, barrette, or hat. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 7 , wherein the garment is configured to fit the subject's torso. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 6 , wherein the device is a pair of eyeglasses or an eyeglass frame. 
     
     
       11. A method of improving a subject's vestibular system, comprising:
 (a) evaluating the subject's vestibular system; 
 (b) stimulating the subject's vestibular system by attaching one or more repositionable stimuli to a device worn by the subject; 
 (c) reevaluating the subject's vestibular system; 
 (d) comparing the subject's vestibular system in (c) to the subject's vestibular system in (a); and 
 (e) repeating (b)-(d) until the subject's vestibular system shows improvement after the comparison in (d). 
 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the device is a pair of eyeglasses or an eyeglass frame. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the device is a garment. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 13 , wherein the garment is configured to be worn on the subject's torso. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 13 , wherein the garment is a cap, headband, or hat. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the device is an orthotic configured to fit the subject's torso. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the device is a prosthesis. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 17 , wherein the prosthesis is a prosthetic limb. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 18 , wherein the prosthetic limb is a prosthetic leg. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the one or more repositionable stimuli comprise one or more weights, wherein the one or more weights combine to weight between about 0.2% to about 2% of the subject's body weight. 
     
     
       21. An apparatus for stimulating a patient's sensory system, comprising:
 a garment made of a flexible and wearable material to be worn by the patient, the garment capable of receiving one or more sources of stimuli, the stimuli originating other than from weight, over a plurality of immediately adjacent and continuous positions; and   one or more repositionable sources of patient stimuli, the stimuli originating other than from weight, attached to the garment.    
     
     
       22. The apparatus of claim 21 where the repositionable sources of stimuli comprise an electrical stimulation device, a thermal device, a vibration device or a compression device or combinations thereof.  
     
     
       23. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising an orthotic insert, where the garment includes means for coupling to the orthotic insert.  
     
     
       24. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the garment is comprised of multiple components removably coupled together at a plurality of immediately adjacent and continuous positions.  
     
     
       25. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the garment comprises apparel applied to the torso, a brace, corset, shoulder pad, a body suit, a band, a blouse, an undergarment, a girdle, a girdle-like garment, a glove, a jacket, a cape, a vest, a brassiere, a tee, a shirt, a jacket, a yoga garment, a hospital garment, a sling, pants, a waistband, a collar, a cuff, a bracelet, a shoe, a belt, straps, a cap, a headband, a barrette, a hat, or an adjustable balance evaluation tool.  
     
     
       26. An apparatus comprising:
 a receiving device configured to be applied to a subject and comprising an inner and an outer surface; and   one or more selectively repositionable source of corrective stimuli, the stimuli originating other than from weight, the receiving device capable of receiving one or more of the sources of corrective stimuli to be applied to the subject over a plurality of immediately adjacent and continuous positions, the sources disposed on either the inner or outer surface of the receiving device or both.    
     
     
       27. The apparatus of claim 26 where the sources of corrective stimuli comprise a source of electrical stimulation, a source of thermal stimulation, a source of vibratory stimulation or a source of compressive stimulation or combinations thereof.  
     
     
       28. The apparatus of claim 26 where the receiving device comprises a prosthesis, a prosthetic limb, a prosthetic leg, a seating device, a wheelchair, eyewear, eyeglasses, a glasses frame, apparel applied to the torso, a brace, corset, shoulder pad, a body suit, a band, a blouse, an undergarment, a girdle, a girdle-like garment, a glove, a jacket, a cape, a vest, a brassiere, a tee, a shirt, a jacket, a yoga garment, a hospital garment, a sling, pants, a waistband, a collar, a cuff, a bracelet, a shoe, a belt, straps, a cap, a headband, a barrette, a hat, or an adjustable balance evaluation tool.  
     
     
       29. The apparatus of claim 26 where the subject is a human or nonhuman animal.  
     
     
       30. The apparatus of claim 26, further comprising an orthotic insert, where the receiving device includes means for coupling to the orthotic insert.  
     
     
       31. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the receiving device is comprised of multiple components removably coupled together at a plurality of immediately adjacent and continuous positions.  
     
     
       32. An apparatus for stimulating a patient's sensory system, comprising:
 a garment made of a flexible and wearable material, and configured to be worn on the patient's torso and comprising an inner and an outer surface, the garment capable of receiving one or more stimuli over a plurality of immediately adjacent and continuous positions; and   one or more repositionable stimuli sources capable of sensorially stimulating the patient and configured to attach to the garment, where the stimuli sources comprise a source of electrical stimulation, a source of thermal stimulation, a source of vibratory stimulation or a source of compressive stimulation or combinations thereof.