Comparative Study to Assess the Effect of Gaze Stability Exercises and Perturbation Based Balance Exercises on Balance for Stroke Patients

Background: Impairment in perception of sensory input disturbs static and dynamic balance in patients with stroke. Gaze stability exercises and perturbation-based balance exercises (PBBT) have shown results in improving balance and reducing risk of falls. However, the effect of these interventions has not been assessed and compared for balance in stroke patients. This study aims to assess and compare the effect of gaze stability exercises and PBBT for balance in stroke patients. Methods: Forty stroke patients were recruited in the study. Patients were divided into group A and group B and they received gaze stability exercises and PBBT respectively. Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Timed Up and Go test (TUG) and Stroke Impact Scale (SIS) were the outcome measures. The pre and post intervention scores were recorded and assessed respectively. Results: The analysis of BBS, TUG and SIS showed improvement in both group A and group B with p<0.05 significance. In comparison to Gaze stability exercises group and PBBT group, both performance oriented and clinical measures of balance was better improved in PBBT group than in gaze stability group (8.55 ± 6.85 and 5.10 ± 5.67 respectively) and (2.7 ± 5.43 and 1.15 ± 4.32 respectively) with respect to the scores of BBS and TUG respectively. Health- related quality of life improved better in PBBT group than in gaze stability group (15.45 ± 11.54 and 7.4 ± 9.11 respectively) with respect to the scores of SIS. Conclusion: Gaze stability exercises and PBBT are effective for balance training and improving health- related quality of life in patients with stroke. However, in this study PBBT showed better results for balance and health-related quality of life in patients with stroke in comparison to Gaze stability exercises.