Comparative Effects of Perturbation-Based Balance Training and Whole-Body Vibration on Balance and Gait in Subacute Stroke Patients

Objective: To explore the comparative effects of perturbation-based balance training (PBBT) and whole-body vibration (WBV) on balance and gait in patients during the subacute phase of stroke. Methodology: This randomized clinical trial was conducted at DHQ Hospital, Sialkot and included twenty-eight participants with ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke who were between 12–20 weeks post stroke, aged 40–60 years, able to stand independently, walk 2 meters, and score >20/56 on Berg Balance Scale. The participants were selected through a non-probability convenience sampling technique. The study was carried out over a ten-month period, from April 2022 to January 2023, following ethical approval. Subjects were randomly allocated into two groups using computer-generated numbers (n=14 each). Group 1 received balance-oriented training with unidentified perturbations combined with conventional physical therapy, while Group 2 received whole-body vibration therapy with conventional physical therapy. The Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and Dynamic Gait Index (DGI) were used as outcome measures, assessed at baseline and after six weeks of intervention. The independent t-test and paired t-test were used to identify differences within and between groups, with a significance level set at p < 0.05. Results: Significant differences were detected in the scores of the BBS and DGI between the two groups. The within-group analyses for both Group 1 and Group 2 indicated significant improvements, with more marked improvements in the perturbation-based balance training (PBBT) group. Baseline comparison of BBS and DGI showed mean differences of 0.83 and 0.50, respectively, with p > 0.05, indicating similarity at baseline. Post-intervention comparison for the BBS showed a mean score of 31.91±3.87 in the PBBT group and 26.58±3.98 in the WBV group. For the DGI, the mean score was 14.66±1.61 in the PBBT group and 12.41±1.92 in the WBV group. Conclusion: The study concluded that while both interventions resulted in significant improvements in balance and gait, PBBT led to greater improvements than WBV.