Effect of biomechanical ankle platform system (baps) training for improving balance in stroke patients

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis “BAPS training with conventional physiotherapy is better than only conventional physiotherapy for improve balance in stroke patients”. Objectives: To identify the effect of Biomechanical Ankle Platform System (BAPS) training for improving balance in stroke patients. Also to explore the commonly affected age group, affected side, type of stroke and gender group of people who were more affected. Methodology: Single blinded; Randomized controlled trial study was used in this study. The data were collected by simple random sampling procedure by using a structural mixed type of questionnaire. 20 stroke patients with balance problem were listed from Neurology outdoor at physiotherapy department of CRP (Savar). After that 10 patients were randomly assigned to BAPS training exercises with conventional physiotherapy group and 10 patients to the only conventional physiotherapy group for this study. Berg Balance Scale (BBS) was used to measure the Balance level of the patients. Results: Data was analyzed by using Mann Whitney “U” test and Microsoft Mac Excel Worksheet 2011 was used to decorate data according to BBS scale. After observing pre-test and post-test score the significant improvement wasn‟t found. P-value was > 0.05. Improvements were not statistically significant. But according to mean difference this study has found greater improvement over control group. Conclusions: Biomechanical Ankle Platform System training exercises along with conventional therapy are more effective than conventional therapy alone to improve balance of stroke patients. Keywords: Stroke patient, Balance in stroke patient, BAPS Training, Conventional Physiotherapy.