Influence of biofeedback weight bearing training in sit to stand to sit and the limits of stability on stroke patients.
Dae Jung Yang
PMID 27942111WHAT IT FOUND
Stroke inpatients doing biofeedback weight-bearing training stood up and sat down faster and increased stability limits compared with functional weight-bearing training.
Both groups also had standard physical therapy including CNS development therapy before the experiment, so the biofeedback component cannot be separated.
Key findings
01After eight weeks, the biofeedback group's sit-to-stand-to-sit time fell from 5.57 to 3.12 seconds, while the functional group's fell from 5.13 to 4.25 seconds.
02The biofeedback group's limits-of-stability area increased from 148.3 to 154.6 cm2, while the functional group's increased from 149.6 to 152.3 cm2.
03The study reports group differences for sit-to-stand-to-sit time (p<0.01) and limits-of-stability area (p<0.05) after intervention.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
The study had only 30 participants, 15 in each group, so the results could change with a larger sample. All participants were stroke inpatients who could already walk at least 10 m and score K-MMSE 24 or over, so it does not show what happens in patients with more severe movement or cognitive problems. The paper does not report whether participants, therapists, or assessors were blinded, or how allocation was concealed. The paper does not report a primary outcome. The paper does not report dropouts or how missing data were handled. Both groups had standard physical therapy including CNS development therapy before the experiment, so the study cannot isolate the effect of biofeedback weight-bearing training. The outcomes were measured only before and after an eight-week intervention, with no follow-up reported.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that biofeedback weight-bearing training alone caused the improvement. Both groups also received standard physical therapy including CNS development therapy before the experiment, and the study did not report blinding or which outcome was primary.