The Effect of Postural Training Using Personal Balance Feedback on Postural Stability in Patients With Acute Stroke

Objectives: Postural imbalance is a common disorder in acute stroke patients that increases the risk of falls and functional limitations. Technology-based postural exercises with visual feedback, such as personal balance feedback (PBF), offer an innovative approach to accelerate postural stability recovery. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of postural exercises using PBF on trunk control, foot pressure distribution, body sway, and balance in acute stroke patients. Methods: This study was a randomized controlled trial with ۴۱ acute stroke patients divided into an intervention group (n=۲۰) and a control group (n=۲۱). The intervention group received weight shift modification-based postural training with PBF, while the control group underwent weight shift training without PBF. The evaluation included trunk control using the Trunk control test (TCT), analysis of support and body sway with PBF, and balance using the functional reach test (FRT).  Results: The intervention group showed significant improvements in trunk control (P=۰.۰۰۰), mediolateral body sway (P=۰.۰۰۰), anteroposterior body sway (P=۰.۰۰۰), and balance (P=۰.۰۰۰). However, the foot distribution did not experience significant changes (P=۰.۵۵۱). In the control group, only the balance variable showed significant changes (P=۰.۰۱۷), while the other variables did not show significant changes. The results of the between-group effect test showed significant differences in all variables, namely trunk control (P=۰.۰۰۰), foot support distribution (P=۰.۰۰۲), mediolateral body sway (P=۰.۰۰۰), anteroposterior body sway (P=۰.۰۰۰), and balance (P=۰.۰۰۰). This suggests that PBF training improved postural control in acute stroke patients and may enhance task-oriented practice. Discussion: The conclusion of this study is that weight shift exercises modified with PBF significantly improve trunk control, reduce mediolateral and anteroposterior body sway, and improve functional balance in patients with acute stroke.

کلیدواژه ها:

Stroke ، Postural stability ، Trunk control ، Body sway ، Foot support distribution ، Balance ، Personal balance feedback (PBF)