Biofeedback Training for Balance Ability Improvement: An Analysis of Short-term Effects and Sensory Information Utilization.

Abstract

This study investigates the short-term effects of biofeedback rehabilitation on postural balance performance, addressing a significant gap in existing research that has focused primarily on long-term outcomes. The present study aims to test the following hypothesis: Changes in the way sensory information is used through biofeedback training will lead to changes in postural balance performance in the short term. Experiments were conducted with five young, healthy individuals. Participants underwent biofeedback training sessions involving tasks such as maintaining the center of pressure of the feet within specific targets, and performed quiet standing tasks and standing tasks with both open and closed eyes before and after the training sessions.The results showed suggestive correlations between changes in sway during quiet standing and changes in sway with eyes open and closed before and after the training session, which differed between the training and control groups. This supports the hypothesis and suggests that biofeedback training may indirectly affect postural balance ability by altering the way sensory information is used and the existence of diverse strategies.Clinical Relevance- This leads to more effective biofeedback training designs based on reweighting in the use of sensory information.