Frequently Asked Questions

The vestibular system sits in the inner ear and controls balance while helping the body sense its position in space. It connects directly to the brain.

Bilateral Vestibular Loss (BVL) happens when both inner ears lose vestibular function completely. Bilateral Vestibular Hypofunction (BVH) happens when both inner ears lose vestibular function partly.

People with BVL or BVH often struggle to keep their balance, especially when they walk in the dark or on uneven ground. These conditions raise the risk of falls, cause dizziness and blurred vision, create imbalance, and lower overall physical fitness.

Unilateral Vestibular Loss or Hypofunction (UVL or UVH) affects only one side of the vestibular system. The healthy side partly compensates, so symptoms usually feel less severe than in bilateral conditions. Still, people with UVL or UVH often feel dizzy and unsteady.

The BalanceBelt is a slim, lightweight device that helps patients with vestibular disorders such as Bilateral or Unilateral Vestibular Hypofunction or Loss (BVL/BVH or UVL/UVH), or Persistent Postural Perceptual Dizziness (PPPD). It delivers haptic feedback (gentle vibrations) that signal body position and balance. The brain interprets these signals subconsciously, and the wearer adjusts posture and improves balance as a result.

The BalanceBelt is a wearable device that uses haptic feedback, or small vibrations, to stimulate the sense of touch and activate the wearer’s proprioception—the ability to perceive the location, movement, and action of body parts. The belt continuously senses which direction the wearer is leaning and provides vibrational feedback through tiny motors positioned around the waist. This feedback does not automatically adjust posture but is designed to help the wearer perceive their body position in space, aiding in reducing imbalance.

The vibrations should improve the sense of balance automatically, and it is important not to pay specific attention to the vibrations, as this could be counter-productive and distracting.

After activating the BalanceBelt, it will automatically calibrate to the ‘neutral position’ in which the person wants to stand. Moving from this neutral position will cause the BalanceBelt to vibrate, sending body posture information to the brain. If the patient adopts a different stable position (e.g., sitting), the BalanceBelt will detect this new position after a few seconds and stop vibrating. When transitioning between sitting and standing, it is necessary to wait before walking until the BalanceBelt has recalibrated and stops vibrating. At this point, the BalanceBelt will have reset the standing ‘neutral position.’

The BalanceBelt weighs only 285 grams / 10 oz. (size M).

The BalanceBelt comes in different sizes and is based on someones taille size (number 2 in the picture). Please refer to the sizing video (Dutch or English) or contact us for assistance in selecting the correct size.

Sizes are based on waist circumference:

• XS: 59 – 70 cm
• S: 66.5 – 78 cm
• M: 75 – 88 cm
• L: 85.5 – 99 cm
• XL: 96.5 – 111 cm
• XXL: 105 – 117 cm

The BalanceBelt has undergone extensive patient testing, under the guidance of Prof. Dr Herman Kingma of Maastricht University. The latest study was reported in the Journal of Neurology:

‘Vibrotactile feedback improves balance and mobility in patients with severe bilateral vestibular loss’, Kingma, H., Felipe, L., Gerards, MC. et al.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00415-018-9133-z.

The BalanceBelt is primarily designed for vestibular disorders. If you have other medical conditions, such as neurological disorders, we do not see positive effects from using the BalanceBelt.

The causes of balance problems may than be more complex and are often related to motor dysfunctions, muscle weakness, or coordination problems. The BalanceBelt has not always proven effective in conditions where balance is affected by factors other than just the vestibular system (e.g., by nervous system or brain). Therefore, BalanceBelt focuses primarily on vestibular disorders.

Consult a Balance Specialist, such as a physician or physiotherapist at your local hospital or clinic, to determine whether you have a vestibular disorder—such as Bilateral Vestibular Loss, Unilateral Vestibular Loss, or PPPD—and whether the BalanceBelt could benefit you.

Yes, if your Balance Specialist (e.g. Physician or Physiotherapist) determines that you may benefit from using the belt, a trial session can be arranged. You can contact us, and we will refer you to an affiliated physiotherapist or hospital where you can undergo a trial period with the belt for 3-4 weeks. After the trial period, you can decide whether you would like to purchase or rent the belt.

Please note, this is only possible if there is a partner or clinic near you, as we are not yet globally established.

Please contact us and let us know exactly what you want to know. Immediately indicate which country you are from and give your contact details (phone number and email). We will contact you as soon as possible..

Please contact us to get the pricing for your specific situation.

If the BalanceBelt isn’t working as expected, please contact us. We will assess your situation and determine if there is any way we can assist you.

The time to see results varies depending on the individual, but many people notice improvements in balance within a few hours.

The BalanceBelt is worn around the waist, preferably over a base layer such as a t-shirt. The BalanceBelt should not be used together with another (medical) aid that can be affected by vibrational feedback on the waist or chest area.

The BalanceBelt was designed to assist patients with balance disorders throughout their daily lives. The battery lasts about 16 hours and it is lightweight and unobtrusive enough to be worn all day long.

The BalanceBelt lasts for about 16 hours under normal usage.

The BalanceBelt can be fully charged in about 6 hours.

Please consult a specialist (e.g. physiotherapist or physician) before using the BalanceBelt while driving or cycling. Test the device before driving or cycling on public roads.

Please contact us for repair or replacement of the belt (under warranty) and let us know your details, including your service issue, serial number, email, phone number and language preference.

The BalanceBelt is generally safe for most users. However, if you experience any discomfort or adverse effects, stop using it immediately and contact us.

Yes! You can clean the BalanceBelt by gently wiping it with a damp cloth. Do not submerge the device in water or use harsh cleaning products.

In addition, you can take off the sleeve around the belt and ONLY the sleeve can be washed according to its instructions (handwash, 30 degrees).

For more detailed maintenance, refer to the user manual.

Yes, the BalanceBelt comes with a two-year warranty from the date of purchase. See manual for more information. If you encounter any issues, please reach out to our support team for assistance.

Please contact us and let us know your question and contact details. We will get back to you as soon as possible.

Yes. We can send you the declaration on conformity if you use contact us and let us know your question and contact details. We will get back to you as soon as possible.

Please contact us and let us know your specific area(s) of interest and contact details. We will get back to you as soon as possible.