LONG-TERM EFFECTS OF AUDITORY-FEEDBACK TRAINING ON RELEARNED SYMMETRICAL BODY-WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION IN STROKE PATIENTS - A FOLLOW-UP-STUDY

Long-term effects of auditory kinetic feedback on relearned symmetrica l body weight distribution while rising and sitting down were studied in stroke patients. Thirty patients were re-tested on average 33 month s after having trained with and without auditory feedback. Body weight distribution on the legs was measured with two force plates. At re-te st there was a decrease from 48% to 39% of body weight distribution (% BWD) on the paretic leg in rising and in sitting down in the patients in the auditory feedback group (p < 0.001). In the control group the d ecrease was from 44 to 39 %BWD on the paretic leg (p < 0.05) in rising and from 44 to 42 %BWD (n.s.) in sitting down. The symmetrical body-w eight distribution, acquired after auditory feedback training, was not consistent over time. Movement time, however, was significantly reduc ed in the auditory feedback group (p < 0.05). Possible reasons for the findings are discussed.