Multisensory Augmentation to Improve Standing Balance in People With Chronic Stroke

What this Trial Is About

Many people who have experienced a stroke struggle with balance problems, which may be partly caused by sensory issues. Researchers are evaluating whether sensory augmentation, a non-invasive method using vibration to enhance sensory information, can help improve balance in individuals with chronic stroke. This early phase 1 study aims to design a new multisensory augmentation approach that provides artificial feedback to the nervous system about body movement to prevent balance loss. Participants will take part in a 10-week balance training program consisting of 20 sessions where they stand on a platform that moves under their feet. Half of the participants will receive sensory augmentation during training, with vibration intensity controlled by their center of pressure motion, while the other half will undergo the same balance training without sensory stimulation. The difficulty of the training tasks will gradually increase over the sessions. During the study, researchers will assess balance improvements using clinical and biomechanical measures before and after the training period, focusing on changes in the Berg Balance Scale score. Participants must be able to stand independently for at least one minute and will be monitored for safety. The study will help determine if multisensory augmentation leads to sustained improvements in standing balance after stroke.

Multisensory Augmentation for Post-stroke Standing Balance