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UT Tyler Professors Awarded Patent for Unique Exercise Ball
Follow @UTTylerTweetSeptember 30, 2020
Media Contact: Beverley Golden
Senior Director of Media Relations
Marketing and Communications
The University of Texas at Tyler
903.566.7303
The University of Texas at Tyler announced that it has received a U.S. patent for a device that supports physical and mental health exercises and weight training, particularly in older adults and the disabled.
The Tai Chi Ball was developed by UT Tyler faculty Dr. Yong Tai Wang, UT Tyler College of Nursing and Health Sciences dean, and Dr. Chung Hyun Goh, UT Tyler assistant professor of mechanical engineering.
“We celebrate the outstanding work of Dr. Wang and Dr. Goh,” said Dr. Amir Mirmiran, UT Tyler provost. “Their collaboration has resulted in a historic moment for the University. We are very proud.”
The unique feature of the Tai Chi Ball is that it can be separated into independent sections for weight training in the Tai Chi practice. Historically, Tai Chi is a mind-body exercise, not for weight training. As a result, people whose lean mass and bone density are reduced during the aging process may not effectively benefit from this type of exercise.
“Tai Chi is an exercise for improving physical and mental health for older adults. Strength training is also a crucial exercise for older adults,” said Wang. “We have not seen a health promotion program to combine the mind-body exercise with strength training in one, so we developed this Tai Chi Ball as well as Wheelchair Tai Chi Ball 12 Forms for individuals with disabilities or spinal cord injuries.”
The pilot study for this project was funded in 2017 by Paralyzed Veterans of America, a veteran service organization, and the research study was published in the Journal of Sports Medicine in June 2020.
The ball comes in three sizes and three weights to match individual physical and health conditions. It is currently produced by UT Tyler using a 3D printer. An investment company will be secured in the future for mass production of the product.
Wang has been part of the UT Tyler leadership since 2014. He has taught Tai Chi classes for more than 20 years and has focused his research on the biomechanics of rehabilitation. His research incudes the effects of Tai Chi on physical and psychosocial functions for different populations, including the elderly and patients with spinal cord injuries.
This is Wang’s second patent application. In 2008, his first patent application was for the design of an EZ Push Wheelchair that features more anatomical and mechanical advantages than a conventional chair. It can be operated by one or two hands and is suitable for stroke patients and/or elderly wheelchair users.
Goh joined the UT Tyler College of Engineering in 2015. His expertise and interests include robotics, machine vision and control, and integrated design and manufacturing. He is currently working on robotic medical device design and rehabilitation-related research projects.
A member of the prestigious UT System, The University of Texas at Tyler focuses on student success and innovative research in the more than 80 undergraduate and graduate degree programs offered to nearly 10,000 students. Classified by Carnegie as a doctoral research institution and by U.S. News and World Report as a National University, UT Tyler has campuses in Tyler, Longview, Palestine and Houston.