Effect of coordination biofeedback on (re)learning preferred postural patterns in post-stroke patients.

After stroke, ankle-hip coordination during stance is characterized by changes in the postural system dynamics, specifically the disappearance of the in-phase pattern and the reduced stability of the anti-phase pattern. This study was conducted to assess the success of a coordination visual biofeedback for the (re)learning of the two preferred patterns, and to explore the effect of this treatment on postural and functional abilities. Twenty four patients were randomly assigned to one of two experimental groups or to a control group.

Changes in preferred postural patterns following stroke during intentional ankle/hip coordination.

We compared the spatio-temporal postural organization between stroke patients and healthy controls in a bipedal standing task where participants had to intentionally produce two specific ankle/hip coordination patterns: in-phase and anti-phase. The pattern to reproduce was visually represented by a ankle-hip Lissajous figure, and a real-time biofeedback displayed the current coordination sur-imposed to the expected coordination. Contrary to the healthy participants who were successful at reproducing the two patterns, stroke patients were unable to produce the in-phase pattern.

Use of the Faces Pain Scale by left and right hemispheric stroke patients.

No pain scale is available for stroke patients due to the presence of language or cognitive disorders. However, the Faces Pain Scale (FPS), which was initially developed for children, has been used with success in adults with cognitive impairments. The aim of this study is to test whether the FPS could be used in left or right hemispheric stroke patients (LHSP, RHSP).