Effect of proprioceptive stimulation induced by footplate during center of pressure movement tracking training on the balance abilities of patients with chronic hemiplegic stroke: a randomized, controlled, pilot study

Balance Training with Weight Shift-Triggered Electrical Stimulation for Stroke Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial

This study aimed to determine the effects of balance training with weight shift-triggered electrical stimulation to improve balance, lower-extremity motor function, and activities of daily living in patients with stroke. The participants were randomly allocated to the balance training with electrical stimulation group (BT-ESG, n = 29) or the balance training group (BTG, n = 30). Both groups were trained 5 times per week for 6 weeks for 50 min per session. To evaluate static balance, postural sway was assessed and dynamic balance was assessed using the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, and functional reach test (FRT). Lower-extremity motor function was assessed using the Fugl-Meyer assessment. Daily activities were assessed using the Modified Barthel Index. As for static balance, BT-ESG showed a significant improvement compared to BTG in postural swat in both the eyes-open (velocity moment; effect size, 0.88; 95% confidence interval, -1.16 to -1.30), or eyes-closed state (velocity moment; effect size, 0.81; 95% confidence interval, -1.22 to -0.27). Dynamic balance, which includes TUG (effect size, 0.90; 95% confidence interval, -4.67 to -1.25), BBS (effect size, 1.26; 95% confidence interval, -2.84 to 6.83), and FRT (effect size, 1.45; 95% confidence interval, 1.92 to 4.08), in addition to lower-extremity motor function (effect size, 1.38; 95% confidence interval, 2.25 to 4.97), and activities of daily living (effect size, 2.04; 95% confidence interval, 2.04 to 937), showed significant improvement in BT-ESG compared to BTG. These results suggest that balance training with weight shift-triggered electrical stimulation effectively improves balance, lower-extremity motor function, and activities of daily living in patients with stroke.

Effects of Trunk Stabilization Exercise While Wearing a Pelvic Compression Belt on Walking and Balancing Abilities in Patients With Stroke: An Assessor Blinded, Preliminary, Randomized, Controlled Study

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of wearing a pelvic compression belt during trunk stability exercise on balance and gait ability in patients with stroke.

DESIGN

Thirty-six patients with stroke participated and were randomly allocated to three groups: the paretic group (trunk stability exercise wearing a pelvic belt on the paretic side), the nonparetic group (trunk stability exercise wearing a pelvic belt on the nonparetic side), or the control group (trunk stability exercise without a pelvic belt). Walking and balancing abilities were assessed before and after trunk stabilization exercise.

RESULTS

Significantly larger gains were identified in the paretic group than in the control group for all variables (P < 0.017). In addition, significantly larger gains were observed in the paretic group than in the nonparetic group (P < 0.017) (limit of stability, 15.6%; stance phase of paretic side, 4.1%; 10-m walking test, -10.1%; 6-min walking test, 4.6%).

CONCLUSION

Wearing a pelvic belt on the paretic side during trunk stabilization exercise seems to be more effective at improving the balancing and walking abilities of patients with stroke than wearing a pelvic compression belt on the nonparetic side or not wearing a pelvic belt.