Effect of Pro-kin visual feedback balance training system on gait stability in patients with cerebral small vessel disease

Due to the indistinct nature of symptoms for Cerebral Small Vessel Disease (CSVD), diagnosis is often missed. With significant deterioration of movement disorder, risk of falls increases dramatically. Comparison study was conducted to explore the association between balance function and gait instability, and the treatment effectiveness of visual feedback balance training on the gait disorder in CSVD patients. Fifty-six patients with CSVD were studied. They were randomly divided into observation and control groups, and were given conventional gait rehabilitation training, including single-leg weight, shift of the center of gravity, step and hip extension training, stepping up and down on stairs with the affected leg, standing up with hip extension and support of the leg, lateral walking, and in situ walking. Training was performed twice a day for 20 minutes each for 4 consecutive weeks. In addition, the observation group received balance training using Pro-Kin visual feedback balance training system. Both groups were evaluated prior and post-treatment using the Tinetti Scale and the Pro-Kin Visual Feedback Balance Training System. For the Tinetti Scale, lower score indicates more serious gait balance dysfunction. For the Pro-Kin, greater length means poorer balance function. Larger area means poorer balance function. Smaller value of the 2 parameters indicates better balance function. After training, the trajectory lengths and areas of orbital motions were significantly decreased (P < .05). However greater decrease was seen in the observation group (P < .01). The trajectory length and area for both groups were less when the eyes open than closed (P < .01). The Tinetti scores for balance and gait functions of both groups improved significantly (P < .05). However, the observation group showed even greater results than the control group (P < .01). Results from Person test showed there was a significant correlation between balance and gait functions. Combination of visual feedback balance training with conventional rehabilitation treatment could gain a greater result than conventional rehabilitation alone. It indicates that balance training may serve as an additional method for gait stability training for CSVD patients.