Recovery of the body balance in individuals post-stroke: effect of training with sensory restriction as a function of the injured cerebral hemisphere

Abstract

Stroke induces dysfunction in body balance that can be alleviated or completely remedied through regular exercise in order to develop control of upright posture. However, few investigations have evaluated the effect of training principles applied to postural control in individuals who have suffered a stroke. This project aims to evaluate the effect of sensory restriction during training on postural control activities, compared with the training based on full sensory information. An additional objective is to compare the effects of training among individuals with lesions in the right versus left cerebral hemisphere. Evaluations will be done in quiet stance tasks with sensory restriction, displacement of the support base and limit of postural stability. It will be measured variables indicating postural stability (derived from center of pressure), range of motion and muscle activation. Training will be conducted in 16 sessions of 60 min. duration. The enduring effects of learning will be estimated by evaluation performed 30 days after the end of training. (AU)