Vestibular rehabilitation with biofeedback in patients with central imbalance

• Main Author: Bittar,Roseli Saraiva Moreira
• Publication Date: 2011
• Other Authors: Barros,Camila de Giacomo Carneiro
• Format: Article
• Language: eng
• Source: Brazilian Journal of Otorhinolaryngology
• Download full: http://old.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1808-86942011000300014
• topic: stroke; rehabilitation; dizziness; postural balance

Central Nervous System disorders may cause important functional unbalance in the maintenance of balance and posture. There is no effective rehabilitation for these symptoms until now. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this paper is to evaluate the use of tongue electrotactile stimulation on patients with central imbalance using BrainPort. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a prospective case series study. We evaluated 8 patients with central imbalance, 6 men and 2 women, with mean age of 67.75 years. The patients were submitted to Computed Dynamic Posturography (CDP) and then received 18 sessions of electrotactile stimulation by BrainPort® device for 20 minutes, twice a day. Then they were submitted to a new CDP test and to a self-perception scale to assess symptom remission, partial improvement and no improvement at all. RESULTS: 75% of the patients reported being more stable. There was no improvement in the balance control of the mass center in these patients. CONCLUSION: The patients were able to use the electrotactile stimulus to improve their balance control.