Using Biofeedback to Reduce Step Length Asymmetry Impairs Dynamic Balance in People Poststroke.
Sungwoo Park, Chang Liu, Natalia Sánchez and 3 others
PMID 34060926WHAT IT FOUND
Using visual feedback to reduce step length asymmetry in people post-stroke increased forward body rotation during walking, suggesting impaired dynamic balance rather than improvement.
The strategy used to achieve symmetry matters, as participants varied in how they compensated.
Key findings
01Reducing step length asymmetry with visual feedback was associated with an increase in forward angular momentum in the sagittal plane.
02Whole-body angular momentum correlates with clinical balance scores, supporting its use as a measure of dynamic balance in this population.
03Participants successfully modified their step length asymmetry, reducing it during the symmetry trial compared to baseline.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The study measured short-term responses to feedback, not long-term adaptations to gait training. Participants walked on a treadmill with a safety harness, which may alter natural balance strategies compared to over-ground walking. The sample size for the main analysis was restricted to 15 participants who had a meaningful baseline asymmetry. The study did not measure reactive balance control, which may respond differently to asymmetry changes.
Declared interests
The authors declare no conflicts of interest. Funding sources are not explicitly detailed in the provided text snippets, but standard academic disclosure applies.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret the increase in angular momentum as a sign of improved balance. Higher angular momentum indicates greater difficulty controlling body rotation and is associated with worse clinical balance scores in this population.