Case Study:
Study conclusion: Sole Sensor™ improves balance and helps prevent senior citizens from falling.
Researcher: Stephen Perry, a professor in Wilfrid Laurier University's kinesiology and physical education department.
Study focus: Perry co-invented the new shoe insole called the Sole Sensor™.

It's a simple shoe insole that has a slight ridge along its outer edge to alert seniors when they are losing their balance. Perry hopes it will greatly reduce the number of fall-related injuries among older adults. "As we age, we lose sensation in the soles of our feet, which can cause poor balance and an increased risk of falling," Perry said. "The Sole Sensor™ helps to enhance the sole's sensory perception. When you feel the insole's ridge, you subconsciously know that you are unbalanced and adjust your body movements accordingly."  In the trials, a group of seniors aged 65 to 75 who wore Sole Sensors™ for 12 weeks had half the number of falls than a second group that did not wear the insoles.