Originally published December 7 2005
New device could be a major step forward in preventive medicine
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
The University of Wurzburg has filed an international patent on a device invented by a university professor, which claims to assess muscle function and fall risk, as well as function as an ergometer.
In this case, muscles are insufficiently stimulated by nerves; as a consequence, the muscles degrade due to lack of activation.
This is also true in stroke patients who suffer from a lack of brain- and spinal cord-activated muscle function.
Another cause of impairment is that muscle power packs often perish with increasing age.
"You may consider an individual of age 60 versus one of age 80 with identical bone density.
This may be concluded from large epidemiological studies, with which Schneider became familiar during his practice in the nuclear medicine, where he has taken care of osteoporosis patients for the last 20 years.
His invention looks like a scale, but it has special design features.
During the assessment process, the patient stands with both feet on the device, which measures the amount of force generated at three points.
A computer receives the signals from the device and calculates the patient's weight and center of gravity.
The body tries to stay in balance, thereby increasing the amount of coordinated activity among the vestibular system, nerves and muscles of the legs and feet.
A dancer is able to keep the body's center of gravity within very small limits," Schneider says.
Special software allows extremely accurate documentation of different deficits, Schneider emphasizes.
In addition, muscle frequency analysis allows the device to determine whether an imbalance is caused predominantly by muscular or neuronal deficiency.
It can calculate the muscle power generated by a patient who stands on the platform and executes knee bends, lifts weights, or simply raises an arm.
"In the context of preventive medicine, which is a major issue in health politics, a widely available power test device could be developed," Schneider says.
All content posted on this site is commentary or opinion and is protected under Free Speech. Truth Publishing LLC takes sole responsibility for all content. Truth Publishing sells no hard products and earns no money from the recommendation of products. NaturalNews.com is presented for educational and commentary purposes only and should not be construed as professional advice from any licensed practitioner. Truth Publishing assumes no responsibility for the use or misuse of this material. For the full terms of usage of this material, visit www.NaturalNews.com/terms.shtml