Clinical observational gait analysis to evaluate improvement of balance during gait with vibrotactile biofeedback.

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE:

This study explores the effect of vibrotactile biofeedback on gait in 20 patients with bilateral vestibular areflexia using observational gait analysis to score individual balance.

METHODS:

A tilt sensor mounted on the head or trunk is used to detect head or body tilt and activates, via a microprocessor, 12 equally distributed vibrators placed around the waist. Two positions of the tilt sensor were evaluated besides no biofeedback in three different gait velocity tasks (slow/fast tandem gait, normal gait on foam) resulting in nine different randomized conditions. Biofeedback activated versus inactivated was compared. Twenty patients (10 males, 10 females, age 39-77 years) with a bilateral vestibular areflexia or severe bilateral vestibular hyporeflexia, severe balance problems and frequent falls participated in this study.

RESULTS:

Significant improvements in balance during gait were shown in our patients using biofeedback and sensor on the trunk. Only two patients showed a significant individual gait improvement with the biofeedback system, but in the majority of our patients, it increased confidence and a feeling of balance.

CONCLUSION:

This study indicates the feasibility of vibrotactile biofeedback for vestibular rehabilitation and to improve balance during gait.

• Authors: Maurice Janssen, Rianne Pas, Jos Aarts, Yvonne Janssen-Potten, Hans Vles, Christine Nabuurs, Rob van Lummel, Robert Stokroos, Herman Kingma
• Journal: Physiotherapy research international : the journal for researchers and clinicians in physical therapy (Physiother Res Int) Vol. 17 Issue 1 Pg. 4-11 (Mar 2012) ISSN: 1471-2865 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 21207506 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Biofeedback, Psychology (methods)
• Female
• Gait (physiology)
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Postural Balance (physiology)
• Reflex, Abnormal (physiology)
• Severity of Illness Index
• Vestibular Diseases (physiopathology, rehabilitation)