Visual-spatial training in patients with sub-acute stroke without neglect: a randomized, single-blind controlled...

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Clinical Neurology

Background:

• Sensorimotor impairments, including balance and gait deficits, are common after stroke.
• Visual disorders resulting from stroke can significantly impede daily activities.
• Subacute stroke patients often require comprehensive rehabilitation to regain function.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate visual-spatial training as an adjunct to conventional neurorehabilitation for subacute stroke patients.
• To assess the impact of visual-spatial training on balance and gait.
• To determine the effect of this training on activities of daily living.

Main Methods:

• Thirty subacute stroke inpatients were randomized into a visual-spatial training group or a control group.
• Both groups received conventional neurorehabilitation; the experimental group also underwent 4 weeks of visual-spatial training.
• Balance and daily living activities were assessed using the Tinetti Balance and Gait Scale (TBG), Berg Balance Scale, computerized posturography, and Barthel Index (BI).

Main Results:

• Significant improvements were observed in the visual-spatial training group compared to the control group for TBG and Barthel Index scores.
• Both groups showed non-significant improvements in instrumental postural assessments.
• The TIME x GROUP interaction indicated a significant effect of the visual-spatial training intervention.

Conclusions:

• Visual-spatial training, as an add-on to conventional neurorehabilitation, can effectively improve balance in subacute stroke patients.
• This complementary strategy also shows promise in enhancing activities of daily living post-stroke.
• Further research may explore optimizing visual-spatial training protocols for stroke recovery.