This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Web of Science (9) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Yavuzer, G. Articles by Stam, H. J Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Yavuzer, G. Articles by Stam, H. J Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

The effects of balance training on gait late after stroke: a randomized controlled trial

Ankara University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Ankara, Turkey and Erasmus University Medical Center, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Rotterdam, The Netherlands, gunesyavuzer{at}hotmail.com

Filiz Eser

Ankara Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey

Dilek Karakus

Ankara Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey

Belgin Karaoglan

Ankara Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey

Henk J Stam

Erasmus University Medical Center, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

Objective: To investigate the effects of balance training, using force platform biofeedback, on quantitative gait characteristics of hemiparetic patients late after stroke.

Design: Randomized, controlled, assessor-blinded trial.

Setting: Rehabilitation ward and gait laboratory of a university hospital.

Subjects: Forty-one patients (mean (standard deviation; SD) age of 60.9 (11.7) years) with hemiparesis late after stroke (median time since stroke six months) were randomly assigned to an experimental or a control group.

Interventions: The control group (n = 19) participated in a conventional stroke inpatient rehabilitation programme, whereas the experimental group (n = 22) received 15 sessions of balance training (using force platform biofeedback) in addition to the conventional programme.

Main outcome measures: Selected paretic side time-distance, kinematic and kinetic gait parameters in sagittal, frontal and transverse planes were measured using a three-dimensional computerized gait analysis system, one week before and after the experimental treatment programme.

Results: The control group did not show any statistically significant difference regarding gait characteristics. Pelvic excursion in frontal plane improved significantly (P = 0.021) in the experimental group. The difference between before-after change scores of the groups was significant for pelvic excursion in frontal plane (P = 0.039) and vertical ground reaction force (P = 0.030) in favour of experimental group.

Conclusion: Balance training using force platform biofeedback in addition to a conventional inpatient stroke rehabilitation programme is beneficial in improving postural control and weight-bearing on the paretic side while walking late after stroke.

Clinical Rehabilitation, Vol. 20, No. 11, 960-969 (2006)
DOI: 10.1177/0269215506070315


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				L. Wevers, I. van de Port, M. Vermue, G. Mead, and G. Kwakkel Effects of Task-Oriented Circuit Class Training on Walking Competency After Stroke: A Systematic Review Stroke, July 1, 2009; 40(7): 2450 - 2459. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. Gok, D. Geler-Kulcu, N. Alptekin, and G. Dincer Efficacy of treatment with a kinaesthetic ability training device on balance and mobility after stroke: a randomized controlled study Clinical Rehabilitation, October 1, 2008; 22(10-11): 922 - 930. [Abstract] [PDF]