The HUBER 360 device system from Chattanooga is used in the field of physical medicine for the diagnosis of muscular, psychomotor as well as neuroproprioceptive abilities as well as their promotion and, if necessary, therapy of existing imbalances or deficits of the patient. The design of the HUBER 360 combines a three-dimensionally moving platform with grip elements, each of which is independently capable of detecting the center of gravity and force application of the exerciser in a sitting or standing position in real time. A treatment plan is developed from the initial analysis of the patient’s stability, strength and coordination, as well as any movement limitations. During therapy, the patient’s performance is visualized in terms of biofeedback. Training stimulus and effect result from the successful completion of sequential exercise goals in the categories of flexibility and mobility, muscle strengthening, balance and proprioception, and endurance. The HUBER allows a wide range of applications in various fields of medicine and sports science. These include the areas of geriatrics, orthopedics, general health prophylaxis, and training supplementation in amateur and professional sports. Positive effects of training on the general physical parameters of balance, proprioception, muscle development and psychomotor function are confirmed.
Indications (areas of application)
- Chronic low back pain
- Deficits in right-left coordination and exercise-induced, unilateral hypertrophy of the musculature
- Restrictions on the ability to walk in multiple sclerosis.
- General indications:
- Improvement of balance, proprioception, muscle development and targeted promotion of psychomotor skills.
- Preservation and promotion of physical fitness of geriatric patients.
- Compensation of low physical activity healthy in everyday life and sensorimotor deficits in geriatric and physically disabled patients.
- Overweight (BMI ≥ 25; obesity).
- Injury and fall prevention
Contraindications
The patient must be physically and mentally able to perform the exercises intended for him. With appropriate adaptation of neuroproprioceptive and muscular training to the abilities of the practitioner, none of the authors mentioned reported negative patient feedback or any complications. The therapy is safe to perform even in patients older than 80 years with severe motor deficits. Similarly, safe use has been confirmed in patients with coronary artery disease. In patients at risk of falling, appropriate support/safety should be provided by the therapist.
Before Diagnostics
Patient analysis on the HUBER is performed after appropriate history, general examination, clinical diagnosis, and imaging modalities to be used, if necessary. For the actual analysis, the patient should wear suitable clothing that allows sufficient freedom of movement and will be informed in advance about the test procedure.
Before therapy
The patient receives his or her individual treatment plan and is educated and instructed accordingly. For independent exercisers, clarification of equipment operation is provided. Attention should be paid to appropriate clothing that allows sufficient freedom of movement.
The procedure
During the analysis, the measurement of stability in stance (double-legged with eyes open and then with eyes closed, as well as single-legged on the right as well as left foot), walking pattern (equality of steps in length and intensity), stability limit, possible movement restrictions, muscle strength of trunk and arms, as well as their coordination with the stability of the body’s center of gravity is performed. During therapy, exercises from the areas of flexibility and mobility, muscle strengthening, balance and proprioception, and endurance are combined according to the patient’s ability and treatment goal. Within the selected exercises, the demands on the exerciser are increased during the course of therapy in terms of speed, endurance, muscle strength, and leg-hand or right-left coordination. Progress is monitored by measuring the exercise performance. The recording takes place in percentages of the maximum possible exercise success and is presented in a chronological progress diagram as visualized biofeedback.
After therapy
If desired or needed, the initial analysis can be repeated at appropriate time intervals during or after completion of treatment to provide additional, comparative, and reproducible information about the practitioner’s progress.
Potential complications
None of the authors listed below reported complications-see also the “Contraindications” section.
