Balance Metrix

10/10/2025

Lavenia Russell, Wendy Newport, Brigitta Labann and David Wells had their balance tested today. 🦩 It was during a collaborative pop-up balance metrics - exercise physiology awareness session at Panthers Port Macquarie mounted by Hastings Physio and Health's Lesley Flanagan and Balance Metrix's Ian Bergman (who took the photos).

Organised by Hastings Physio and Health exercise physiology manager Erin Freeman, it followed a similar event that Erin and Ian collaborated on to celebrate World Clinical Exercise Physiology Day back on 23 September.

That was when we first found out about the balance testing and training sessions Erin has set up for community members here in Port Macquarie. We're happy to help the team promote them. 😁

03/10/2025

Join our Better Balance Initiative

The Better Balance Initiative aims to stop preventable falls.

01/10/2025

The more people who stand on the Balance Mat from Balance Metrix the better we reckon. Thank you Wini Health for taking our technology to the people🙏

25/09/2025

Balance Metrix was a proud Event Partner with Exercise & Sports Science Australia (ESSA) last week at NSW Parliament House. We and our two AEP partners in the Better Balance Initiative - Jo MacAllan from MacAllan Health and Dylan Slater from Think and Move - were honoured to be involved.

24/09/2025

We knew that Erin Freeman from Hastings Physio and Health had bought a Balance Mat, but it wasn't until yesterday that we found out how she's been using it.

The occasion was a World Clinical Exercise Physiology Day event here in Port Macquarie. We happened to go onto their website and found out about their “Take A Stand For Falls Prevention” program (see
https://physioandhealth.com.au/falls-prevention-program.html).

This is a comprehensive 8-week balance and falls prevention program designed to improve stability, build strength and empower older Australians to live confidently and independently.

Led by the Hastings Physio and Health team of Accredited Exercise Physiologists, the program "combines professional expertise with evidence based strategies to deliver exceptional outcomes for participants."

It includes the use of the Balance Mat technology from Balance Metrix as part of the diagnostic process, "ensuring a scientific, accurate assessment of participants’ progress from start to finish."

Wonderful news! It's exactly the sort of innovative program we would like to see more of. Well done, Erin and the Hastings Physio and Health team of AEPs!

23/09/2025

Today - 23 September 2025 - is World Clinical Exercise Physiology Day.

Clinical exercise physiologists are professionals dedicated to improving health, preventing disease and transforming lives through the power of exercise.

In Port Macquarie, we’re celebrating World Clinical Exercise Physiology Day with an information booth and free health checks at Settlement City Shopping Centre.

Accredited exercise physiologist Erin Freeman from Hastings Physio and Health is there to tell people about her profession and explain how her team of accredited exercise physiologists from three local clinics can help local people with various health issues.

Erin is being supported on the day by Ian Bergman – inventor of the Balance Mat. The Balance Mat is a tool that Erin uses to help her older clients stay stronger for longer by checking postural sway – which has been implicated in falls risk – and tailoring specific exercises to address strength, balance, gait and mobility issues.

A typical falls prevention program could involve progressive resistance training and functional strength exercises like sit-to-stand movements, modified kettlebell deadlifts, wall push-ups and resistance band training. Hastings Physio and Health clinics are equipped with a full range of the tools and machines.

29/07/2025

Lately Ian Bergman has been getting out into the community. Have Balance Mat, will travel. 🦩 Today he tested the Moore family's balance at a shop in Port Macquarie.

Adrian, Kylie, Jared and Bianca Moore all had excellent balance on the Balance Mat from Balance Metrix.

In the normal and semi-tandem stances the Moores all scored less than 0.3, which is "low" postural sway. ⭐Jared aged 12 in particular was a star, scoring zero in both stances.

Here's a picture of Adrian Moore on the Balance Mat. Thank you to Bianca, owner of The Witchy Nook, for hosting Ian's visit.

If you want to book in for a balance test contact Ian on 0457 123 852.

25/07/2025

Are you 50 years or older?
Do you worry about your balance ability?

Balance Metrix is providing an opportunity for you to see if you have low, medium or high falls risk, based on your postural sway measurements on some new Australian technology - the Balance Mat.

Having your balance tested electronically on the Balance Mat is a practical, proactive thing you can do to benefit your quality of life and wellbeing.

Two 20-second tests (in the normal and semi tandem stances) will give you an indication of your fall risk and indicate whether you need to see a doctor to investigate a possible health condition or go to an exercise physiologist or physiotherapist to improve your strength and balance and reduce your risk of falling.

After the two tests you will receive a copy of your results (paper or electronic) that you can take to the practitioner as an indicator of your balance ability and falls risk at this point in time.

Where: The Witchy Nook, Shop 1/99 Horton Street, Port Macquarie
When: 12 noon to 2 pm, Tuesday, 29 July 2025
Cost: $38 for the two tests
No booking needed, just show up on the day.
For enquiries, please contact Ian Bergman on 0457 123 852.
www.thewitchynook.com, www.balancemetrix.com.au

17/07/2025

Ian Bergman's latest blog post is shining a light on falls prevention.

On 26 June 2025, the Australian Falls Guidelines were updated by the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care. Ian was excited to read "Preventing falls and harm from falls in older people: Best Practice Guidelines for Residential Aged Care Services" because there is now a greater emphasis on exercise prescription in aged care, as well as balance testing.

The updated guidelines stipulate assessing balance with validated tools to guide exercise prescription and measure balance improvements. For the first time they acknowledge the role that accredited exercise physiologists can play.

The new emphasis dovetails nicely with the Balance Metrix strategy of introducing balance testing using the Balance Mat to residential aged care facilities and partnering with exercise physiologists and exercise-focused physiotherapists in our Better Balance Initiative.

The Guidelines mandate “multifactorial comprehensive fall risk assessment” and “tailored fall intervention plans” – in accordance with “the goals of care for the older person to minimise risk.”

That makes perfect sense to us. It aligns with a shift to “positive ageing” - some would say "a quiet revolution" where older people retain their dignity, have more of a say in their care and are enabled to move well and stay well and stronger for longer.

You can read about the development of the Balance Mat from four testing stances based on the American Centres for Disease Control 2010 STEADI protocol to the five-stance TGA-approved Australian-made electronic postural sway measurement tool it is today at this link: http://bit.ly/3Uh5jfX

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