Biofeedback in rehabilitation of stroke patients

Background and objectives. In patients after stroke there comes to body mass distribution disorders. It is an obstacle in reeducation of standing and walking as well as a limitation of the ability to perform everyday activities. The aim of the study was to assess the effect of balance platform training with the application of biofeedback on body mass distribution and the improvement of the efficiency of everyday activities performance in patients after stroke.Material and methods. The investigated group included 25 subjects, who participated in the programme of rehabilitation consisting of platform training and physiotherapy. The comparative group were 14 subjects rehabilitated according to the established set of exercises excluding those on the balance platform. The training with the use of visual and auditory biofeedback, consisting of 10 repetitions, was performed every day 6 days a week. Both groups were subjected to the same training programme. The measurement of the feet pressure force on the balance platform in a standing position, neurological and physiotherapeutic examination and functional estimation of everyday activities according to Barthel index, were performed in every patient before and 18 days after the training. For the training and the measurement of the pressure force ERBE balance platform was used with Windows Physio-Feedback System.Results and conclusions. In both groups statistically significant improvement of functional conditions and body mass distribution were observed. The training of hemiparetic patients on the force platform with the application of biofeedback affects the change in the value of pressure force of lower extremity to the values observed in healthy subjects. The increase in relative lower extremity pressure on the paretic side was 5 times higher in the group with biofeedback than in the group without it.