Post-Stroke Visual Dependence and Multisensory Balance Rehabilitation

Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation

Status: Unknown

Conditions: Stroke; Sensory Integration Dysfunction

Treatments: Other: Multisensory Balance Training

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT04750668

09-M-141

Details and patient eligibility

About

Stroke patients have higher levels of visual dependence, which affects orientation, balance and gait. Visual adaption or habituation training aiming to decrease visual sensitivity and tolerance, is commonly used to decrease the levels of visual dependence. However, the visual adaption training often evokes unbearable vertigo, resulting in lower compliance to training program. In addition, stroke patients who have higher visual dependence may not have the symptom of dizziness. Therefore, it is unclear whether visual adaption training has similar effects on stroke patients. Visual dependence is considered as a sensory reweighting deficit and therefore visual dependence could be improved through multisensory balance training which comprises of visual, vestibular, and proprioceptive manipulation. This study will investigate the effects of early multisensory balance training on visual dependence, balance and gait in subacute stroke patients.

Full description

A total of 80 subacute stroke participants will be randomly assigned to either experimental and control groups. Participants in the experimental group will receive multisensory balance training while those in the control group will maintain their regular care. All participants will be assessed their levels of visual dependence, motor ability, balance and gait, vertigo symptom and activities of daily living before and after intervention program as well as at 3-month follow-up.

Enrollment: 80 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 20 to 80 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• (1) first stroke with 20-80 years of age
• (2) the time since onset is less than 6 months
• (3) able to stand independently without any devices
• (4) can understand and follow commands
• (5) can give informed consent.

Exclusion criteria

• (1) other neurological disorders which could affect balance assessment
• (2) diagnosis with dementia.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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80 participants in 2 patient groups

Multisensory Balance Training Group

Experimental group

Description:

Multisensory balance training manipulate sensory inputs of vision, vestibular and proprioception.

Treatment:

Other: Multisensory Balance Training

Control Group

No Intervention group

Description:

Participants in control group maintain their regular activity without any intervention.