Among home-dwelling individuals with chronic stroke, balance problems have been identified as the strongest predictor of falling, especially during performance of complex tasks [ 1].
Using cluster analysis, with relevant patient characteristics (age, gender, stroke type, first stroke, localization stroke), balance, arm function, walking abilities, activities of daily living, depressive complaints and neuropsychiatric symptoms, we were able to identify two clusters of patients: those in fair/good condition on admission and those in poor condition on admission.
Most individuals have sensory disturbances post stroke, and these deficits contribute to post-stroke balance impairment.
Between one and four years post-stroke, balance, walking and instrumental activities of daily life such as personal care, housekeeping, cooking and psychosocial activities have deteriorated [ 11, 75].
In this paper, we elucidate the theoretical basis for a theory-driven rehabilitation program to improve stroke sufferers' balance skills and walking capability using exergames.
12 13 A number of small randomised trials have shown that supervised physical training can improve stroke patients' balance, walking ability, and physical fitness.
Randomization is stratified according to history of myocardial infarction (MI) or ischemic stroke for balance across study arms, intensity of statin treatment (atorvastatin 40 to 80 mg daily, or rosuvastatin 20 to 40 mg daily versus simvastatin irrespective of the daily dose, atorvastatin below 40 mg daily or rosuvastatin below 20 mg daily), and geographic region (where applicable).
As the stroke sufferer's balance is impaired and can lead to consequences such as falls, knowing the questions related to balance and gait will be important in order for these two physical capabilities to be better understood in hemiparetic subjects.
But sometimes a patient is at such grave risk of a stroke that the balance tips in favor of an anticlotting drug anyway, he says.
And, in a satisfyingly tidy stroke of cosmic balance, Carr's research has found that people who often have nightmares also tend to have more positive dreams than the average person.
For stroke patients, stable balance and mobility, which are part of functional status, lead to a better health-related quality of life [ 25].
