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Balance evaluation techniques and physical therapy in post-stroke patients: A literature review
Affiliations- Department of Rehabilitation, Medical Academy of Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas, Lithuania
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Abstract
A stroke (cerebrovascular accident – CVA) is a significant social–economic issue. Approximately 15–30% of all patients develop life-long disability, 20% require over 3 months of specialized care in healthcare institutions, and the majority of the patients never recover the ability to maintain a proper vertical position. Such CVA sequelae as balance disturbances not only negatively affect patients’ daily physical activity, but also result in social isolation. A number of standardized clinical scales, tests, and instrumental examination techniques have been proposed for evaluating not only post-CVA balance function, but also any changes in this function following various interventions. Even though scientific literature lists numerous methods and instruments for the improvement of balance after a CVA, not all of them are equally effective, and there have been rather controversial evaluations of some techniques. Nevertheless, the application of the majority of the techniques as complementary or alternative measures to traditional physical therapy (PT) frequently yields better results.
Abstract
A stroke (cerebrovascular accident – CVA) is a significant social–economic issue. Approximately 15–30% of all patients develop life-long disability, 20% require over 3 months of specialized care in healthcare institutions, and the majority of the patients never recover the ability to maintain a proper vertical position. Such CVA sequelae as balance disturbances not only negatively affect patients’ daily physical activity, but also result in social isolation. A number of standardized clinical scales, tests, and instrumental examination techniques have been proposed for evaluating not only post-CVA balance function, but also any changes in this function following various interventions. Even though scientific literature lists numerous methods and instruments for the improvement of balance after a CVA, not all of them are equally effective, and there have been rather controversial evaluations of some techniques. Nevertheless, the application of the majority of the techniques as complementary or alternative measures to traditional physical therapy (PT) frequently yields better results.
Keywords
Stroke, Balance, Balance training, Post-stroke balance evaluation techniques
About this articleTitle
Balance evaluation techniques and physical therapy in post-stroke patients: A literature review
Journal
Neurologia i Neurochirurgia Polska
Issue
Article type
Review Article
Pages
92-100
Page views
2324
Article views/downloads
3767
DOI
10.1016/j.pjnns.2016.11.003
Bibliographic record
Neurol Neurochir Pol 2017;51(1):92-100.
Keywords
Stroke
Balance
Balance training
Post-stroke balance evaluation techniques
Authors
Eglė Lendraitienė
Agnė Tamošauskaitė
Daiva Petruševičienė
Raimondas Savickas
