Explicit versus implicit lower extremity sensory retraining for post-stroke chronic sensory deficits: a randomized controlled trial.

PURPOSE: Sensory impairment post-stroke limits rehabilitation of balance and gait. This study aims to compare the effect of explicit sensory retraining (ESR) versus implicit repeated exposure (IRE) to stimuli of the lower extremity, assessing their effects on sensation, balance, and gait in individuals with chronic post-stroke sensory impairment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A two-arm parallel double-blind multicenter randomized controlled trial was conducted in physical therapy outpatient clinics. Volunteers with chronic sensory impairment post-stroke participated in 10 sessions of 45 min ESR or IRE, according to a detailed protocol. Outcome measures assessed sensation, balance, mobility, and participation. RESULTS: A total of 64 participants were recruited (ESR, n = 34; IRE, n = 30). The intention-to-treat pre-post analysis demonstrated clinically meaningful changes for both interventions (10-31% improvement for the various measures), with no between-group difference or time × group interaction. The effect size for the time effect varied, with the largest being 0.63 for the miniBEST. CONCLUSIONS: Sensory rehabilitation treatment by either ESR or IRE led to similar clinically significant changes in the performance of the lower extremity and participation in subjects with sensory loss post-stroke. Both treatment protocols are easy to implement in an outpatient clinic. . CLINICALTRIALS.GOV REGISTRATION: NCT01988220. Implications for rehabilitationStandardized, structured, sensory-focused training can improve balance and gait in subjects with chronic post-stroke sensory impairment.Both explicit and implicit learning-based sensory protocols focused on the lower extremity effectively improved balance, mobility, and gait abilities, resulting in enhanced participation of individuals in the chronic post-stroke phase.A series of ten 45-minute treatment sessions in outpatient clinics lead to clinically significant improvements.

Assessment of texture discrimination ability at the sole of the foot in subjects with chronic stroke compared with young and elderly subjects with no neurological deficits: a reliability and validity study.

PURPOSE: To examine validity and test-retest reliability of a sensory test developed to evaluate ability of elderly subjects with/out a stroke to discriminate between textures with the sole of their foot. METHODS: Subjects poststroke, old adults and young subjects were tested twice. Twelve materials relevant to foot function (e.g., gravel, sand) were used. Blindfolded subjects were requested to discriminate with the sole of each foot one outstanding texture among three textures presented in each of 12 subtests. ANOVA, ICC and Bland-Altman tests were used to determine group/leg differences and test-retest reliability. RESULTS: Discrimination ability of the involved lower extremity poststroke is significantly reduced. Ability in individuals with no neurological impairment is age related. Good test-retest (ICC = 0.81) reliability was demonstrated for the impaired foot of subjects poststroke. The 95% repeatability ranges were age related with the highest range demonstrated for the involved foot poststroke. A significant fair negative correlation was demonstrated between texture discrimination ability and tactile detection threshold measured by Semmes-Weinstein monofilaments for the involved foot in poststroke subjects. CONCLUSION: This newly developed assessment tool demonstrates concurrent and known-groups validity and is reliable for determining texture discriminative ability of the foot in individuals post-stroke and in older adults with no neurological impairment. Implications for rehabilitation The texture discrimination test presented here is a valid and reliable tool, providing quantitative assessment of sensory function at the sole of the foot in older adults with no neurologic deficits and in subjects poststroke. Lower extremity texture discrimination test is easy to administer in the clinic and might suggest directions for individually tailored, lower extremity, sensory retraining protocols.