Citations
To Investigate the synergic effects of short-term constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT) and visual biofeedback training (VBT) in subacute stroke patients.
Thirty-two subacute stroke patients were enrolled and randomly assigned to one of three groups: short-term CIMT with VBT, VBT only, and control groups. We applied CIMT for an hour daily during VBT instead of the ordinary restraint time, referred to as 'short-term' CIMT. Short-term CIMT with VBT group received simultaneous VBT with CIMT, whereas the VBT the only group received VBT without CIMT for an hour a day for 2 weeks. The control group received conventional occupational therapy (OT) alone. Patients underwent the Purdue Pegboard Test, the JAMAR grip strength test, the Wolf Motor Function Test, the Fugl-Meyer Assessment (upper extremity), Motricity index and the Korean version of Modified Barthel Index test to evaluate motor functions of the hemiplegic upper limb at baseline, post-treatment, and 2 weeks after treatment.
No significant differences were observed between short-term CIMT with VBT and VBT only groups. Both groups showed significantly higher scores compared to the control group in the WMFT and FMA tests. However, the short-term CIMT with VBT group showed significant improvement (p<0.05) compared with the control group in both grasp and pad pinch at post-treatment and 2 weeks after treatment while the VBT only group did not.
Short-term CIMT with VBT group did not show significant improvement of hemiplegic upper limb function of subacute stroke patients, compared to VBT only group. Larger sample sizes and different restraint times would be needed to clarify the effect.
Citations
Method: The subjects were twenty-four stroke patients receiving rehabilitation therapy who could maintain sitting posture independently. These patients were randomly divided into a control and an experimental group. The ability of static postural balance control with the modified Clinical Test Sensory Interaction Balance (mCTSIB) and the weight bearing test was measured before and after the balance training. The ability of dynamic postural balance control was measured with the limit of stability (LOS) test and the rhythmic weight shift test. Motor assessment scale (MAS) and modified Barthel index (MBI) were also checked for measuring the effects.
Results: There was significant improvement in both abilities of static and dynamic postural balance control in the experimental group that had visuo-perceptual biofeedback training using the Balance Master (p<0.05). MAS and MBI scores after the training showed a bigger increase in the experimental group than in the control group.
Conclusion: The visuo-perceptual biofeedback sitting balance training using the Balance Master was considered to be more effective than the conventional training in the stroke patients. (J Korean Acad Rehab Med 2003; 27: 164-172)
The purpose of this study is to clarify the clinical usefulness of Computerized Balance Evaluation and Training System(COBETS) in treating the patients with balance disturbance. Twenty- three patients who received rehabilitative management due to their balance disturbance after brain damage were treated either by conventional physical therapy(PT) or by visual biofeedback balance training(VBBT) using COBETS for 4 weeks. The static and dynamic postural balance were evaluated at pre- and post-treatment conditions using COBETS balance assessment software. The neurologic and functional assessment and somatosensory evoked potential study were performed as well.
Comparing with the control group, the patients treated by VBBT showed significantly improved static and dynamic postural control.