Point-of-care-testing of standing posture with Wii balance board and microsoft kinect during transcranial direct current stimulation: A feasibility study

Issue title: Perspectives on Behavior and Acquired Brain Injury

Guest editors: Harvey E. Jacobs

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Dutta, Arindam^a | Chugh, Sanjay^b | Banerjee, Alakananda^c | Dutta, Anirban^{d; e; *}

Affiliations: [a] Gnan Systems LLP, Kolkata, India | [b] Neuro Rehab Services LLP, Kolkata, India | [c] Max Superspecialty Hospital, Saket, India | [d] Le Laboratoire d'Informatique, de Robotique et de Microélectronique de Montpellier-LIRMM, Montpellier Cedex, France | [e] Institut national de recherche en informatique et en automatique-INRIA, Montpellier Cedex, France

Correspondence: [*] Address for correspondence: Anirban Dutta, DEMAR team of INRIA (Institut National de recherche en Informatique et Automatique)/LIRMM (Laboratoire d'Informatique, Robotique et Microélectronique de Montpellier), 161, rue Ada, Montpellier Cedex 5, France. Tel.: +33 781 051 387; E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract: Background:Non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) is a promising tool for facilitating motor function. NIBS therapy in conjunction with training using postural feedback may facilitate physical rehabilitation following posture disorders (e.g., Pusher Syndrome). Objectives:The objectives of this study were, 1) to develop a low-cost point-of-care-testing (POCT) system for standing posture, 2) to investigate the effects of anodal tDCS on functional reach tasks using the POCT system. Methods:Ten community-dwelling elderly (age >50 years) subjects evaluated the POCT system for standing posture during functional reach tasks where their balance score on Berg Balance Scale was compared with that from Center-of-Mass (CoM) – Center-of-Pressure (CoP) posturography. Then, in a single-blind, sham-controlled study, five healthy right-leg dominant subjects (age: 26.4 ± 5.3 yrs) were evaluated using the POCT system under two conditions – with anodal tDCS of primary motor representations of right tibialis anterior muscle and with sham tDCS. Results:The maximum CoP-CoM lean-angle was found to be well correlated with the BBS score in the elderly subjects. The anodal tDCS strongly (p = 0.0000) affected the maximum CoP excursions but not the return reaction time in healthy. Conclusion:It was concluded that the CoM-CoP lean-line could be used for posture feedback and monitoring during tDCS therapy in conjunction with balance training exercises.

Keywords: Wii balance board, microsoft kinect, balance disorders, non-invasive brain stimulation

DOI: 10.3233/NRE-141077

Journal: NeuroRehabilitation, vol. 34, no. 4, pp. 789-798, 2014