Effects of ankle biofeedback training on strength, balance, and gait in patients with stroke.
Sung-Jin Kim, Hwi-Young Cho, Kyung-Hoon Kim and 1 others
PMID 27799701WHAT IT FOUND
Ankle strength did not differ between biofeedback training and conventional strengthening.
Balance improved and walking time decreased more with biofeedback training after 8 weeks.
Key findings
01The biofeedback group and the control group did not differ significantly in ankle strength after training.
02Balance improved and walking time decreased more in the biofeedback group than in the control group.
03Both groups showed significant within-group improvements in ankle strength, balance, and gait.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
The study included only 27 patients, so the results may not apply broadly. Outcomes were measured only before and after the 8-week training period, not later. All participants also received neurodevelopmental treatment, so the contribution of the ankle training cannot be separated from that background treatment. The control strengthening exercises did not train the entire lower limb or whole body, which is needed for balance. The biofeedback protocol was not standardized, and no gold standard protocol has been formulated.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that biofeedback training is better for ankle strength. The between-group strength difference was not significant. Do not conclude that the ankle training alone caused the gains, because all participants also received neurodevelopmental treatment.