EFFECT OF HAPTIC ANCHOR SYSTEM ON REHABILITATION OF DYNAMIC BALANCE AND GAIT IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC STROKE

Abstract Background: Motor impairment and loss of balance and gait are the main factors affecting the independent function and activity participation of stroke patients. Haptic Anchor System is one of the modalities that can be used in physiotherapy and has a great effect on different impairments like improving postural control, trunk stability during balance tasks, and balance control during walking. Objective: To determine the effect of the haptic anchor system on the rehabilitation of dynamic balance and gait in patients with chronic stroke. Patients and Methods: Thirty patients with unilateral ischemic stroke of both sexes participated in this study, whose ages ranged between 45 to 60 years. They were randomly distributed into two equal groups: the control group (GA) and the study group (GB). The control group received a designed physical therapy program including a conventional balance and gait program, and the study group received the same designed physical therapy program given to the control group for balance and gait in addition to the haptic anchor system. The treatment was conducted for 12 sessions (2 sessions/week) 45 minutes for each session. The study was conducted a 6-week period in which all patients were assessed for dynamic balance and gait at baseline and after a 6-week intervention by using Biodex Balance System (BBS), Biodex gait trainer 2 TM treadmill, dynamic gait index (DGI) and timed up and go test (TUG). Results: Comparison post-treatment results for both groups revealed statistically significant improvement of the step length, ambulation index, walking speed, LOS, TUG, APSI, and OASI in study group B compared to the control group A (P<0.05). Comparison between both groups revealed no significant difference regarding DGI (p = 0.33) and MLSI (p = 0.30) post-treatment. Conclusion: Conventional balance and gait trainings alone may be not sufficient to improve balance and gait in chronic stroke patients .Adding the haptic anchor system to the rehabilitation program seems to be favorable approach in improving dynamic balance parameters (APSI, MLSI, OASI, and LOS) and gait parameters (step length, ambulation index, walking speed, DGI, and TUG) in the rehabilitation of patients with chronic stroke than conventional program alone. Keywords: Dynamic balance, Gait, Haptic anchor system, Stroke. Biodex Balance System, Biodex gait trainer, Timed up and go test.