A Prospective Experimental Study of Effects of Cognitive Tasks on Balance in Stroke Individuals

Background: Load of cognitive task increases the demands on postural control and balance in stroke patients making patients more susceptible to falls. So assessing balance under dual task conditions become important aspect of rehabilitation of stroke patients.

Aims: To see the effect of cognitive task on balance in chronic stroke patients.

Settings and design: Prospective experimental study carried out at tertiary care hospital, Mumbai.

Materials and Methods: 30 Chronic stroke patients (>6 months duration) above 50 years of age were assessed for balance with modified Clinical Test of Sensory Integration of Balance (mCTSIB) scale with and without cognitive task of calculation. Outcome measure was the balance score under four different conditions of the scale with and without cognitive task.

Statistical analysis: Wilcoxson Signrank test and paired t- test were used to analyze the difference between the balance scores with and without cognitive task.

Results: Balance decreased significantly with cognitive tasks in all four conditions of the mCTSIB scale. Condition 1- EOFI: (20.4 +7.32 - 17.5 +9.099) (p <0.001). Condition 2-ECFI: (12.7+7.29 - 9.25+7.196) (p <0.001); condition 3- EOFO: (11+7.87 - 10+9.099) (p <0.001); condition 4- ECFO: (3.4+ 4.95 - 2.1+ 4.65) (p <0.001).

Conclusion: Balance decreases under different conditions with concurrent cognitive task in chronic stroke patients. Hence treatment under dual task conditions in different environments should be an integral part of balance rehabilitation in stroke patients.