Affiliations: [a]
Brain Injury Center – BOMI, Roskilde, Denmark
| [b]
Southern College of Optometry, Memphis, TN, USA
| [c]
Department of Psychology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| [d] Faculty of Science, Spectroscopy and Chemometrics University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Balance problems and binocular visual dysfunction (BVD) are common problems after stroke, however evidence of an effective rehabilitation method are limited. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of a four-month rehabilitation program for individuals with balance problems and BVD after a stroke. METHODS: About 40 sessions of 1.5 hours duration over four months with visual therapy and balance rehabilitation, was provided to all 29 participants, aged 18-67 years, in groups of 7-8 individuals. Several measures for BVD, balance, gait, Health Related Quality Of Life (HRQoL) and functional recovery were used at baseline, at the end of training and at a six-month follow up (FU). RESULTS: We found significant improvements in stereopsis, vergence, saccadic movements, burden of binocular visual symptoms, balance and gait speed, fatigue, HRQoL and functional recovery. Moreover, 60% of the participants were in employment at the six-month FU, compared to only 23% before training. All improvements were sustained at the six-month FU. CONCLUSIONS: Although a control group is lacking, the evidence suggests that the positive improvement is a result of the combined visual and balance training. The combination of balance and visual training appears to facilitate changes at a multimodal level affecting several functions important in daily life.
