Neuroathletic training in stroke rehabilitation? A single-blind randomized controlled pilot study on the potential of neuroathletic training for balance ability in stroke outpatient rehabilitation

Recently, neuroathletic training has been increasingly applied in competitive sports, in therapy, and in prevention. Scientific evidence on the effectiveness of this approach, however, has been poorly developed. Potentials of neuropathologic perceptual exercises to potentially improve balance control in the context of movement therapy in stroke rehabilitation appear promising. To investigate the possible effects of neuroathletic exercises on the balance ability of poststroke patients with ischemic infarcts and intracerebral hemorrhages, a controlled trial of a standardized protocol of daily neuroathletic exercises compared to traditional movement therapy during a four-week period of medical rehabilitation was conducted (n = 19). Patients were assessed with the Berg-Balance Scale (BBS), which represents the Gold standard for clinical measurement of balance. The results of the prepost BBS measurement showed significant balance improvements in the intervention and control groups, whereas the intervention group reached a higher total score by half the size of the standard deviation. A comparison of the results of both groups supported the general effectiveness of movement therapy for improving balance in stroke rehabilitation. However, neuroathletic training exercises did not lead to a stronger effect. Moreover, the intervention group did not score significantly lower than the control group. A negative influence can therefore not be assumed. For further investigations of neuroathletic training compared to treatment-as-usual training to improve balance in stroke rehabilitation, additional studies with larger sample sizes and longer treatment periods should be conducted.Trial registration United States National Library of Medicine, NCT06391801, date: 04.29.2024.