Bulletin No. 2, 2011

Standing up for the Elderly   11  Since 2005, the research team started to develop a platform that can improve the musculoskeletal system by employing low- magnitude and high-frequency whole-body vibration to match the natural frequency of the human body. They named it the Interactive Weightbearing Exercise Platform (iWE Platform). This innovative platform won the Vice-Chancellor Cup of Student Innovation in 2007 and the research team subsequently gained suppor t from local and overseas research grants. The then Technology Licensing Office (TLO) worked closely with the team in the patent application and commercialization process. In 2009, the production of the iWE Platform was supported by the Seed Fund from the University via the TLO. Over 40 prototypes of the iWE Platform were deployed to community centres for testing. More than 800 seniors participating in the test showed excellent results in improving muscle power. The iWE Platform has been commercially available since the end of 2010. More than 150 platforms were sold, mostly to community or elderly centres. Professor Leung said, ‘Our team is extremely excited and happy that our laboratory research is bringing benefits to patients, in particular the elderly, by helping to reduce their medical expenses.’