A microelectromechanical systems, MEMS, sensor comprising: a substrate; a movable element positioned in spaced apart relationship above a surface of said substrate; a suspension anchor formed on said surface of said substrate; a first rigid beam coupled to said suspension anchor and positioned in spaced apart relationship above said surface of said substrate; a second rigid beam coupled to said suspension anchor and positioned in spaced apart relationship above said surface of said substrate, said first and second rigid beams (38, 40) being aligned with one another along an axis of rotation of said movable element; a first torsion spring interconnecting said movable element with said first rigid beam; and a second torsion spring interconnecting said movable element with said second rigid beam, wherein said first torsion spring is a first folded torsion spring, wherein said second torsion spring is a second folded torsion spring, each of said first and second torsion springs (42, 44) being arranged generally parallel to said axis of rotation, characterized in that each of said first and second folded torsion springs (42, 44) further comprises multiple segments having a first length and a first width, said first length being aligned substantially parallel to said axis of rotation; and bar elements linking together said multiple segments in serpentine fashion, each of said first and second rigid beams (38, 40) has a beam length and a beam width, said beam length being aligned parallel to said axis of rotation, said beam width being perpendicular to axis of rotation, and said beam length being greater than said first length of said multiple segments, and said beam width is sufficiently great to provide the rigidity needed to effectively reduce or largely prevent lateral movement during a multi-directional overload condition. a substrate; a movable element positioned in spaced apart relationship above a surface of said substrate; a suspension anchor formed on said surface of said substrate; a first rigid beam coupled to said suspension anchor and positioned in spaced apart relationship above said surface of said substrate; a second rigid beam coupled to said suspension anchor and positioned in spaced apart relationship above said surface of said substrate, said first and second rigid beams (38, 40) being aligned with one another along an axis of rotation of said movable element; a first torsion spring interconnecting said movable element with said first rigid beam; and a second torsion spring interconnecting said movable element with said second rigid beam, wherein said first torsion spring is a first folded torsion spring, wherein said second torsion spring is a second folded torsion spring, each of said first and second torsion springs (42, 44) being arranged generally parallel to said axis of rotation, characterized in that each of said first and second folded torsion springs (42, 44) further comprises multiple segments having a first length and a first width, said first length being aligned substantially parallel to said axis of rotation; and bar elements linking together said multiple segments in serpentine fashion, each of said first and second rigid beams (38, 40) has a beam length and a beam width, said beam length being aligned parallel to said axis of rotation, said beam width being perpendicular to axis of rotation, and said beam length being greater than said first length of said multiple segments, and said beam width is sufficiently great to provide the rigidity needed to effectively reduce or largely prevent lateral movement during a multi-directional overload condition.