Effectiveness of Multicomponent Balance Training and Sensorimotor Foot Mobilization on Postural Stability in Patients Following Brain Tumor Surgery

TL;DR

This study found that sensorimotor foot mobilization is more effective than balance exercises for improving postural stability in brain tumor surgery patients.

Contribution

The study introduces sensorimotor foot mobilization as a more effective rehabilitation method for postural stability after brain tumor surgery.

Findings

Both groups showed significant improvements in postural stability (p < 0.05).

100% of the SMFE group achieved a minimum clinically significant change in postural stability.

SMFE showed better results in balance tasks on hard and soft surfaces.

Abstract

Background: Our study investigated the impact of multicomponent balance exercises (MBE) and sensorimotor mobilization with foot muscle strengthening (SMFE) on postural stability in patients with balance disorders, assessed using the Balance Error Scoring System (BESS) while standing still. Methods: Twenty postoperative patients were included in a randomized clinical study and divided into an MBE group (six women and four men with an average age of 30.2 years) and the SMFE group (six women and four men aged 34.5 years). Balance was assessed with the BESS on the third postoperative day and before discharge. The hospitalization lasted 10 days. Results: All patients in both groups showed significant clinical and statistical improvements (p < 0.05) in maintaining an upright posture after the BESS test. In the MBE group, 80% of patients achieved a minimum clinically significant change of 10 points in postural stability, whereas 100% of patients in the SMFE group did the same. The SMFE group exhibited a statistically significant improvement (p < 0.05) in specific balance tasks conducted on hard and soft surfaces. Conclusions: Our patient sample results suggest that SMFE is more effective than MBE. We recommend its use in early rehabilitation, although further research is necessary.

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