Affiliations: Laboratoire de Physiologie de l'Exercice, EA 4338,
Université de Savoie, Le Bourget du Lac, France
Note: [] Corresponding author: P. Rougier, Laboratoire de Physiologie de
l'Exercice, EA 4338, Université de Savoie, 73373 Le Bourget du Lac,
France. Tel.: +33 4 79758146; Fax: +33 4 79758148; E-mail:
patrice.rougier@univ-savoie.fr
Abstract: Purpose: To assess whether insights from postural control without
additional visual feedback (VFB) could be gained to explain the possible VFB
effects (or non-effects) on upright stance performance. Methods: The
center-of-pressure (CP) displacements of 39 patients with a recent hemispheric
stroke (93 days ± 56; mean ± s.d.) were analyzed in two conditions
(eyes open and VFB) through various classical parameters and fractional
Brownian motion (fBm) modeling. Correlations between their ability to use the
VFB technique appropriately and parameters assessing the eyes open condition
were also computed. Results: The fBm modeling showed that the VFB
technique improves the control of the CP trajectories over the longer time
intervals. In both conditions, the patients with right hemiparesis, compared to
those with left hemiparesis, demonstrated improved control of their CP
displacement along the AP axis over the shortest time intervals. Overall,
28% of the patients did not use the VFB technique. The correlation analysis
indicated that the larger the spontaneous CP movements in the eyes open
condition, the greater the effect of the VFB technique. Conclusions: By emphasizing its particular effects and the profile of the patients who used the
technique, these data specify the conditions allowing hemiparetic patients to
use the VFB technique appropriately and immediately.
Keywords: Postural control-visual feedback-hemiparesis-center of
pressure-rehabilitation
