Article

The aim of this study was to assess effectiveness of balance training with a
vibrotactile neurofeedback system in improving overall stability in patients with
Parkinson's disease (PD).
Ten patients diagnosed with idiopathic PD were
included. Individualization of the rehabilitation program started with a body
sway analysis of stance and gait tasks (Standard Balance Deficit Test, SBDT) by
using the diagnostic tool of the applied device (Vertiguard((R))-RT). Those tasks
with the poorest outcome as related to age- and gender-related controls were
included in the training program (not more than six tasks). Improvement of
postural stability was assessed by performing SBDT, Sensory Organization Test
(SOT) of Computerized Dynamic Posturography (CDP), Dizziness Handicap Inventory
(DHI), activity-specific balance confidence scale and recording the number of
falls over the past three months. Furthermore, scores of SOT and DHI of 10 PD
patients previously trained in an earlier study (by using CDP) were compared with
results of those in the present study. After neurofeedback training (NFT), there
was a statistically significant improvement in body sway (calculated over all
training tasks), number of falls, and scores of SOT, DHI and ABC. In comparison
with CDP-training, a statistically significant higher increase of SOT score was
observed for patients after NFT with the Vertiguard-RT device compared to CDP
training. Our results showed that a free-field vibrotactile NFT with
Vertiguard((R))-RT device can improve balance in PD patients in everyday life conditions very effectively, which might led in turn to a reduction of falls.
CI - Copyright (c) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

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