Renowned vestibular specialist Prof. Dr Kingma developed the BalanceBelt together with Elitac Wearables, creating a non-invasive and sustainable alternative to existing treatments for severe balance disorders.
About Prof. Dr Kingma
Background in biology and physics
Prof. Dr Kingma earned Master’s degrees in Biology and Physics at Amsterdam University, followed by a PhD in Biophysics (Quantum Physics) at Leiden University.
He continued his studies in Clinical Physics at Maastricht University and specialised in Vestibulology at the ENT departments of both Amsterdam University and Maastricht University.
In 2001, he was appointed Full Professor at Maastricht University, where he became Emeritus Professor in 2016. Alongside this, he served as Professor of Physics of the Vestibular System at the Technical University Eindhoven from 2002 to 2012. Between 2015 and 2021, he held the role of Professor of Medical Physics at Tomsk National Research University, where he also directed the Tomsk International Science Program. In 2020, he became Adjunct Professor at the ENT department of Aalborg University in Denmark.
Today, he continues his academic work as a professor in Aalborg and as a scientist at Maastricht University.
Specialising in balance disorders
As Clinical Professor in Vestibulology at Maastricht University Hospital for several decades, Prof. Dr Kingma treated many patients with vestibular disorders, providing diagnosis and treatment.
In 1996, he played a leading role in establishing international classification and standardisation committees within the Bárány Society, the global organisation that connects scientists and clinicians in vestibular research.
Developing the BalanceBelt
In 2018, Prof. Dr Kingma and his research group first developed the BalanceBelt—the world’s only non-invasive vestibular prosthesis. However, to further improve the design, making it lighter, more effective, and easier to produce, he then partnered with the Utrecht-based company Elitac Wearables. As a result of this collaboration, an improved version of the BalanceBelt was launched worldwide in 2020.
Read an interview with Prof. Dr Kingma
Key publications
Prof. Dr Kingma has given hundreds of keynote lectures around the world and contributed to many international peer reviewed WI-1 international publications in biophysics and medical sciences. A selection can be seen below:
Kingma H, van de Berg R. Anatomy, physiology, and physics of the peripheral vestibular system. Handb Clin Neurol. 2016;137:1-16. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-444-63437-5.00001-7. PMID: 27638059.
Perez Fornos A, Guinand N, van de Berg R, Stokroos R, Micera S, Kingma H, Pelizzone M, Guyot JP. Artificial balance: restoration of the vestibulo-ocular reflex in humans with a prototype vestibular neuroprosthesis. Front Neurol. 2014 Apr 29;5:66.
Kingma H, Felipe L, Gerards MC, et al. Vibrotactile feedback improves balance and mobility in patients with severe bilateral vestibular loss. J Neurol. 2019;266(Suppl 1):19-26. doi:10.1007/s00415-018-9133-z