Hemiplegic patients usually present with difficulty maintaining balance. Balance retraining is the major component of rehabilitation program for patients with neurological impairment. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of prorpioceptive exercise program on the improvement of balance in the patients with chronic hemiplegia. Thirty subjects (mean age ) were recruited and the subjects were divided into a proprioceptive group and a visual group. The subjects for the proprioceptive group were participated in the proprioceptive exercise program for 4 weeks, and the visual group were treated visual feedback training using Balance Master. At 4 week follow-up test, Berg Balance Scale significantly improved 1.1 points (p<.01), Timed Up & Go test improved 4.2 second (p<.01), and weight distribution during sit to stand also improved 5.0% (p<.01). As a result of this study, the proprioceptive control approach improved dynamic balance in the patients with chronic hemiplegia. It is suggested that there was no benefit of visual feedback training like as Balance Master when administrated in combination with other physical therapy interventions, compared with physical therapy alone using proprioceptive control approach to hemiplegia.

• 황병용(용인대학교 자연과학대학 물리치료학과) | Hwang Byong-yong 통신저자