Dynamic balance recovery in chronic Acquired Brain Injury participants following a perturbation training

Abstract

AbstractBackgroundAcquired Brain Injury (ABI) is defined as a damage to the brain that occurs after birth. Subjects post-ABI suffer from dynamic balance impairments that persist years after the injury.ObjectiveTo explore the effect of a perturbation method which is consisted of unexpected balance perturbations using Re-Step™ technology on the recovery of dynamic balance and gait velocity in chronic ABI participants.MethodsIn a clinical trial, 35 chronic ABI participants (stroke and traumatic brain injury) participated in 22 sessions of perturbation-training, twice a week for 3 months. Dynamic balance was assessed pre and post-training using Community Balance and Mobility Scale (CB&M). Gait velocity was also assessed in the stroke participants using the 10-meter walk test (10MWT).ResultsDynamic balance improved significantly post-training (p=0.001). This improvement was greater than the improvement that was observed in a sub-group that was tested twice before training (p=0.04). 16 participants (45.7%) out of 35 met or exceeded minimal detectable change (MDC) of the CB&M Scale. Self-paced velocity also improved significantly (p=0.02) but only 2 participants (9.5%) out of 21 exceeded the MDC of 10MWT post-stroke.ConclusionsUnexpected balance perturbation-training using Re-Step™ technology led to an improvement in dynamic balance and gait velocity in chronic ABI participants. The advantage of Re-Step™ technology training compared to conventional balance training should be further examined.