Tongue-based biofeedback for balance in stroke: results of an 8-week pilot study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess balance recovery and quality of life after tongue-placed electrotactile biofeedback training in patients with stroke.

DESIGN: Prospective multicenter research design.

SETTING: Outpatient rehabilitation clinics.

PARTICIPANTS: Patients (N=29) with chronic stroke.

INTERVENTIONS: Patients were administered 1 week of therapy plus 7 weeks of home exercise using a novel tongue based biofeedback balance device.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Timed Up and Go (TUG), Activities-Specific Balance Confidence (ABC) Scale, Dynamic Gait Index (DGI), and Stroke Impact Scale (SIS) were performed before and after the intervention on all subjects.

RESULTS: There were statistically and clinically significant improvements from baseline to posttest in results for the BBS, DGI, TUG, ABC Scale, and some SIS domains (Mobility, Activities of Daily Living/Instrumental Activities of Daily Living, Social, Physical, Recovery domains). Average BBS score increased from 35.9 to 41.6 (P<.001), and DGI score, from 11.1 to 13.7 (P<.001). Time to complete the TUG decreased from 24.7 to 20.7 seconds (P=.002). Including the BBS, DGI, TUG, and ABC Scale, 27 subjects improved beyond the minimal detectable change with 95% certainty (MDC-95) or minimal clinically important difference (MCID) in at least 1 outcome and 3 subjects improved beyond the MDC-95 or MCID in all outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS: Electrotactile biofeedback seems to be a promising integrative method to balance training. A future randomized controlled study is needed.