Effect of Oculomotor and Gaze Stability Exercises on the Improvement of Balance After Stroke

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Individuals older than 60 years old, discharged after suffering brain stroke with referral to the rehabilitation outpatient clinic, will be assessed for orthostatic balance. Patients with positive Romberg test are invited to participate in the trial. Participants will be randomized to either the current rehabilitation protocol or to an supplemental intervention focused on oculomotor and gaze stability exercises to be applied at home for three weeks. Participants will be assessed with standardized, validated tools.

Detailed Description
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The study aims to evaluated the effect of a home program of oculomotor and gaze stability exercises on improvement the balance in stroke patients. Individuals older than 60 years old, discharged after suffering brain stroke and referred to the neurologic rehabilitation outpatient clinic, will be assessed for a neuro-motor deficits. Patients will be consider eligible if they had positive Romberg test (disorder of orthostatic balance) and they will be invited to participate in the trial. Patients with previous balance problems will be excluded. Participants will be allocated in two intervention groups through block randomization, either the current rehabilitation protocol or to an supplemental intervention focused on oculomotor and gaze stability exercises to be applied at home for three weeks. Participants will be assessed with Motor Assessment Scale, Berg Balance Scale and Timed Up and Go Test.

Official Title
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Effectiveness of Oculomotor and Gaze Stability Exercises on the Improvement of Balance After Brain Stroke in Patients Older Than 60 Years Old

Conditions
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Stroke, Distorted; Balance

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: Oculomotor and Gaze Stability Exercises


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Stroke diagnosis 3 to 15 months before recruitment Balance deficits (positive Romberg) Patients able to walk 3 meters without assistance with or without an assistive device Exclusion Criteria: Balance problems previous to the index stroke Severe osteo-articular lesions that compromise the ability to perform the proposed exercises Previous exposure to oculomotor or gaze stability exercises

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 60 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Combined rehabilitation protocol<br>The usual rehabilitation protocol in the physiotherapy department is supplemented with a three weeks home protocol of oculomotor and gaze stability exercises. | Other: Oculomotor and Gaze Stability Exercises<br>* Daily oculomotor and gaze stability exercises, twice a day, for three weeks<br>|
| No Intervention: Usual rehabilitation protocol<br>The usual rehabilitation protocol in the physiotherapy department for patients after stroke. | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Berg Balance Scale (BBS) | Balance measure used in older people with impairment in balance function by assessing the performance of functional tasks | Change on BBS from baseline up to three weeks of intervention | 
| Timed Up and Go Test (TUG) | simple test used to assess mobility and requires both static and dynamic balance | Change on TUG from baseline up to three weeks of intervention | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Oculomotor and Gaze Stability Exercises, Rehabilitation, Physical therapy, Outpatient, Stroke, Postural Balance