FRANKLIN ATHLETIC CLUB
eretz
SUMMER
ANDREW LAVIN
FAMILY SWIM CLUB
Aging Aids
Ben-Gurion University explores
technology to help seniors adapt.
SHARI S. COHEN CONTRIBUTING WRITER
A
JOIN NOW
AND ENJOY FULL
MEMBER PRIVILEGES
EVENTS
POOLSIDE
VISIT FRANKLINCLUB.COM/SWIMCLUB
OR CALL 248.352.8000 EXTENSION 235
MAY 25TH
JUNE 2ND
JUNE 18TH
JUNE 24TH
JULY 11TH
JULY 22ND
JULY 28TH
AUG 5TH
AUG 19TH
AUG 27TH
CYCLE UNDER THE STARS
HIP HOP YOGA ADULT POOL PARTY
BINGO + ICE CREAM PARTY
KIDS NIGHT OUT SWIM PARTY
BOOTCAMP & BBQ
KIDS NIGHT OUT SWIM PARTY
MOVIE UNDER THE MOONLIGHT
ZUMBA DAY PARTY
KIDS NIGHT OUT SLEEPOVER
FAMILY FUN DAY
7PM
7PM
2PM
5PM
6PM
7PM
7PM
9AM
7PM
2PM
FRANKLIN ATHLETIC CLUB
29350 NORTHWESTERN HWY
SOUTHFIELD, MI 48034
FRANKLINCLUB.COM
FRANKLINCLUB.COM
#GETFITWITHFAC
46
May 25 • 2017
jn
s the years pass, ordinary
often resulting in a broken hip or pelvis
objects may seem heavier and
requiring surgery and a long recupera-
harder to grasp. Pavement
tion.
seems less even. Even healthy
“Balance loss increases
ABOVE: JN
individuals experience chang-
after 60, and muscle strength
Contributing Writer
es and challenges as they
and power decline,” explains
Shari Cohen tests
grow older. With an increasing out Pepper, a robot Itshak Melzer, Ph.D., a profes-
elderly population in the U.S.
sor in Ben-Gurion University’s
designed to help
and other countries, social
Department of Physical
seniors.
scientists and health care pro-
Therapy.
viders are investigating ways
“Sixty percent of falls occur
to promote health and independence
during locomotion and the best way
for older adults.
to train is to walk. You have to do the
At Ben-Gurion University in Be’er
same or a similar function,” he adds.
Sheva, Israel, researchers are studying
Melzer has developed a balance
the use of small, human-like robots
recovery program with a virtual real-
to assist older adults with household
ity component that simulates a fall. A
chores and post-stroke rehabilitation.
person being trained wears a harness
Shelly Levy-Tzedek, Ph.D., who
connected to a treadmill that initially
heads the university’s Cognition, Aging creates the experience of walking down
and Rehabilitation Lab, has modified
the street. The sensation of failing
a humanoid robot she has named
— a controlled perturbation — is pro-
Pepper to help older adults with rou-
grammed into the device and the indi-
tine tasks and serve as a rehabilitation
vidual’s balance reaction is measured.
assistant.
“Most balance recovery programs
“There are many robots in industry,
are static, but with this you learn from
where they are good for precision, as
your experience how to recover,” he
well as in agriculture and the military.
says. Ben Gurion-University has sold
There is a robotic chef in the United
the license for the device to MediTouch
Kingdom,” she says.
and it is available in multiple countries.
Levy-Tzedek is testing “socially
Up until age 40 or 50, individuals
assistive robots” that can help seniors
need only two seconds and four steps
with exercise and other movements.
to recover after a fall, while the elderly
Specially designed games help connect require five or six seconds and 10 steps,
individuals with the robot that might
Melzer explains. Individuals with bal-
otherwise seem intimidating.
ance problems take longer to recover.
Communication with Pepper is
Repetition and training on the
achieved through a small screen
device can improve results, even for
mounted on its chest or by touch-
80-year-olds. “People learn how to
ing the robot’s out-stretched hand.
fall. Old people can learn new tricks,”
“Ninety-five percent of older adults
Melzer says.
preferred touching Pepper’s hand to
However, Melzer’s research has
touching the screen,” says Levy-Tzedek. shown that if training stops, bal-
In addition to companionship and
ance gains regress after six months.
assistance with some tasks, the robot
Continuous training is essential to
can help with rehabilitation, augment-
maintain optimal balance and fall
ing expensive sessions with a physical
recovery ability. •
therapist. A 60-person study is under
Shari Cohen participated in the 12th annual
way to test the robot’s effectiveness for
physical therapy.
American Associates, Ben-Gurion University
Technology may also help the elderly of the Negev Murray Fromson Journalism
avoid falling — a common occurrence
Fellowship.