Audio-biofeedback improves balance in patients with bilateral vestibular loss

Dozza M, Chiari L, Horak FB. Audio-biofeedback improves balance in patients with bilateral vestibular loss. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2005;86:1401-3. Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of an audio-biofeedback (ABF) system for improving balance in patients with bilateral vestibular loss (BVL). Design: Before-after trial. Setting: University balance disorders laboratory. Participants: Nine subjects with BVL and 9 unaffected subjects as controls. Intervention: Trunk acceleration ABF while standing on foam with eyes closed. Main Outcome Measure: Balance stability was evaluated according to the following parameters: the root mean square of (1) the center of pressure (COP) displacements and of (2) the trunk accelerations; the COP bandwidth; the time spent by the participant within +/- 1 degrees threshold from their baseline COP position; and the mean accelerations of the trunk while the participant was swaying outside this 1 degrees threshold. Results: Participants with BVL had significantly larger postural sway than did unaffected participants. Those with BVL, while using ABF, decreased sway area by 23% +/- 4.9%, decreased trunk accelerations by 46% +/- 9.9%, and increased time spent within +/- 1 degrees sway threshold by 195% +/- 34.6%. Conclusions: ABF improved stance stability of participants with BVL by increasing the amount of postural corrections. (c) 2005 by American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine and the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.