Toward improving the specificity of perturbation-based training through assessment of dynamic balancing responses: a series of N-of-1 studies in subacute stroke.

Perturbation-based balance training (PBT) has been shown to improve reactive balancing abilities in chronic stroke. To inform future investigations in the subacute phase of stroke, the objective of this series of N-of-1 studies was to investigate the range of balancing responses to unexpected mechanical perturbations applied to the pelvis during walking on an instrumented treadmill before and after PBT training. Three subacute stroke subjects were assessed on each occasion with clinical tests and biomechanical measurements following perturbations applied in forward, backward, inward and outward directions.

A comparison of three balance-assessment scales for patients after stroke with various levels of balance disorder.

It is often difficult for the clinician to choose the most appropriate balance-assessment measure. We wanted to facilitate this decision based on the stroke patient's functional abilities. The aim of our study was to compare three established scales [Berg Balance Scale (BBS), mini-BESTest (MBT) and Functional Gait Assessment (FGA)] in terms of responsiveness, floor and ceiling effects at different levels of ambulation as defined by the Functional Ambulation Classification (FAC).

Assessment of dynamic balancing responses following perturbations during slow walking in relation to clinical outcome measures for high-functioning post-stroke subjects.

Background: Generating appropriate balancing reactions in response to unexpected loss of balance during walking is important to prevent falls. The purpose of this study was to assess dynamic balancing responses following pushes to the pelvis in groups of post-stroke and healthy subjects.

Methods: Forty-one post-stroke subjects and forty-three healthy subjects participated in the study.

Clinical risk factors for post-stroke urinary incontinence during rehabilitation.

Urinary incontinence (UI) is a common problem after stroke. Risk factors for UI seem to be multifactorial. There is still controversy in which risk factors contribute to UI.

Pilot Long-term Evaluation of Competitive and Cooperative Exercise Games in Inpatient Stroke Rehabilitation.

Interpersonal rehabilitation games, which allow patients to compete or cooperate with other patients or unimpaired loved ones, have demonstrated promising short-term results, but have not yet been tested in longer-term studies. This paper thus presents a preliminary 9-session evaluation of interpersonal rehabilitation games for post-stroke arm exercise. Two pairs of stroke survivors were provided with a system that included one competitive and one cooperative rehabilitation game, and exercised with it for 9 sessions in addition to their conventional therapy.