Abstract
PURPOSE: Impaired balance leads to loss of function, e.g., the inability to walk safely. Therefore, restoring balance is a common goal of rehabilitation after a stroke. An innovative motor imaging and robotic device, the Erigo(®)Pro walking table, was used to improve balance in patients who had suffered an acute stroke. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty-six stroke patients in the acute phase with an average age of 64.85 ± 18.62 years were randomly assigned to one of three groups (22 subjects each) and treated with different therapies (conventional, conventional with Erigo(®)Pro, and conventional with Erigo(®)Pro enriched with motor imaging). The duration of therapy was two weeks. Patients were assessed before and after completion of therapy. The study used the trunk stability test and the Berg Balance Scale to assess balance, and the Riablo™ device to measure static balance. In addition, an assessment of the superficial tension of the transversus abdominis and multifidus muscles was performed. The clinical trial registration URL unique identifier was NCT06276075. RESULTS: In each of the groups studied, the therapies applied resulted in significant improvement in functional assessment of trunk stability and balance (TCT < 0.001 and BBS < 0.001). The assessment of balance in the frontal (p = 0.023) and sagittal (p = 0.074) planes with the Riablo™ device confirmed the superiority of motor imaging-enhanced therapy at the level of a statistical trend. The tension of the transversus abdominis was higher at the second measurement (M = 14.41; SE = 3.31). CONCLUSIONS: Motor imagery-enhanced therapy is most important, both for trunk stability and functional improvement of body balance parameters and for increasing transversus abdominis muscle tension.