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.
RCT Entities:
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: Herman Kingma; Lilian Felipe; Marie-Cecile Gerards; Peter Gerits; Nils Guinand; Angelica Perez-Fornos; Vladimir Demkin; Raymond van de Berg Journal: J Neurol Date: 2018-12-05 Impact factor: 4.849
Authors: F M P Lucieer; R Van Hecke; L van Stiphout; S Duijn; A Perez-Fornos; N Guinand; V Van Rompaey; H Kingma; M Joore; R van de Berg Journal: J Neurol Date: 2020-10-08 Impact factor: 4.849