Smart backpack restores balance for ataxia patients
Dutch scientists developed the Gyropack, a backpack that helps peopel suffering from movement disorder ataxia stand and walk more steadily.
Published on August 28, 2025
© TU Delft
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A cohort of Dutch researchers developed an innovative backpack to help people with the movement disorder ataxia stand and walk more steadily. The Gyropack prototype significantly improved patients' balance and coordination, allowing them to perform daily tasks more independently without the need for bulky walkers. While the backpack's current weight alone provides stabilization benefits, the active gyroscopic system offers the most dramatic improvements. The team aims to further refine the design, making the Gyropack lighter and quieter to better suit everyday use and enhance the quality of life for those living with ataxia.
Ataxia is a neurological condition characterized by poor muscle control and coordination, impacting various functions such as walking, balance, hand coordination, speech, swallowing, and even eye movements. This condition typically arises from damage to the cerebellum or its connections, the part of the brain responsible for coordinating muscle movements. Ataxia can manifest through a variety of symptoms, including unsteady walking, poor balance, difficulty with fine motor tasks, changes in speech, and involuntary eye movements. It can stem from numerous causes, including genetic conditions, stroke, tumors, multiple sclerosis, alcohol misuse, and certain medications. While treatments vary depending on the underlying cause, they often include assistive devices like walkers and canes, along with physical, occupational, and speech therapy.
The smart backpack
To address the challenges faced by individuals with ataxia, researchers from Radboud University Medical Center, Delft University of Technology (TU Delft), and Erasmus Medical Center collaborated to develop the Gyropack. Rehabilitation specialist Dr. Jorik Nonnekes from Radboudumc stated: "Some people with ataxia, often young individuals, depend on a walker. These devices can be heavy and cumbersome, and many patients find them stigmatizing."
Inspired by the technology used in space stations and large satellites, the Gyropack utilizes rotating wheels and an advanced control system to counteract the rotational movements of the torso. Heike Vallery, a professor at TU Delft, explains: "It feels a bit like moving through water. This slows down the torso’s motion, providing greater stability and more time to regain balance." The idea for the backpack originated over 10 years ago at Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) and Erasmus MC.
Testing and results
A study involving 14 patients with moderate to advanced ataxia evaluated the effectiveness of the Gyropack. Participants performed balance and walking exercises under three conditions: without the backpack, with the backpack fully operational, and with the gyroscopes rotating but not generating any active effect. The results indicated that even without active gyroscopes, the backpack offered benefits, likely due to its approximate weight of six kilograms, which helps stabilize the upper body. However, the most significant improvements were observed when the gyroscopes were active; patients demonstrated visibly greater stability and could walk in a straight line more effectively. "With the active backpack, patients were visibly more stable and, for example, could walk in a straight line much more easily," said Nonnekes.
Looking ahead, the research team aims to refine the Gyropack further, focusing on making it lighter and quieter to facilitate everyday use. While the current prototype is not yet suitable for daily activities, Dr. Nonnekes envisions a future where the backpack enables people with ataxia to participate more freely in daily life, such as attending social events without needing a walker. This could significantly enhance their mobility and overall quality of life. The researchers plan to continue developing the improved backpack. The study on the Gyropack has been published in the journal npj Robotics.
