BACKGROUND Treadmill training (with or without robotic assistance) has been reported to improve balance skills in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). However, its effectiveness on postural instability has been evaluated mainly in patients with mild to moderate PD (Hoehn & Yahr stage ≤3). Patients with more severe disease may benefit from robot-assisted gait training performed by the Gait-Tr...

Postural instability including imbalance is the most disabling long term problem in Parkinson's disease (PD) that does not respond to pharmacotherapy. This study aimed at investigating the effectiveness of a novel visual-feedback training method, using Wii Fit balance board in improving balance in patients with PD. Twenty four patients with moderate PD were included in the study which comprised...

Background Force platform training with functional electric stimulation aimed at improving balance may be effective in fall prevention for older adults. Aim of the study is to evaluate the effects of the visual-feedback-based force platform balance training with functional electric stimulation on balance and fall prevention in older adults. Methods A single-centre, unblinded, randomized contr...

OBJECTIVE To evaluate trunk muscle strength in unihemispheric stroke patients and to assess how it relates to body balance and functional disability in this patient group. DESIGN This prospective case-comparison study investigated isometric and isokinetic reciprocal trunk flexion and extension strength at angular velocities in 38 unihemispheric stroke patients and 40 healthy volunteers. The B...

[Purpose] Spinocerebellar ataxia consists of a group of autosomal dominant disorders that cause progressive degeneration, mainly in the cerebellum and its connections. Falls, which are a significant concern of this condition, reduce patients' mobility, deteriorate their health and have physical and social consequences. The aim of this study was to test the effectiveness of a modified protocol f...

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to compare changes in balance ability of land exercise and underwater exercise on chronic stroke patients. [Subjects] A total of 60 patients received exercise for 40 minutes, three times a week, for 6 weeks. [Methods] Subjects from both groups performed general conventional treatment during the experimental period. In addition, all subjects engaged in ext...

Background: Osteoarthritis is a chronic and debilitating disease that often occurs in elderly populations, causing pain and loss of balance. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of Tai Chi and isometric exercises on the pain and balance in patients with knee osteoarthritis. Methods: In this study, 24 male subjects with knee osteoarthritis were selec...

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to analyze the effects of task-oriented circuit training on the balance ability and gait endurance of chronic stroke inpatients. [Subjects and Methods] The participants were 30 patients who had stroke >6 months previously, resulting in a disability such as hemiparesis. The participants were randomly divided into the group task-oriented circuit training gr...