Cerebrovascular Accidents

The purpose of this literature review paper is to analyze the use of proprioception training in individuals who have suffered a cerebrovascular accident, most commonly referred to as a stroke. As defined in the textbook (Coker, 2013), proprioception is “the continuous flow of sensory information received from receptors located in the muscles, tendons, joints, and inner ear regarding movement and body position.” A stroke can affect various areas of the brain, including those involved in balance and coordination. As a result, stroke victims struggle to properly coordinate and control their movements. The subsequent paragraphs will address five articles which have been reviewed and pertain to the use of proprioception training in rehabilitation …show more content…
The purpose of this study was to examine and make comparisons of the effects of a general proprioception training program and a proprioception training program combined with another motor learning concept- imagery. The initial subjects of this study were 36 patients in a Korean hospital who had been hospitalized for the treatment of stroke. However, before the study could be started, the potential subjects had to meet the following criteria in order to participate in the study: more than 6 months since the onset of the stroke, a specific score on a mental state exam, a specific score on a movement imagery test, the ability to stand independently for more than three minutes, the ability to walk farther than 10 meters, and no orthopedic diseases that would have affected balance. There were 18 patients who met the criteria necessary to participate in the study. The general proprioception training program was conducted in two phases for 30 minutes per session, five days a week, for eight weeks. The first phase of the training was conducted for four weeks on a balance pad and consisted of five tasks. The second phase was conducted on a balance board and also consisted of five tasks. Five trials were regarded as one set, and a total of five sets were performed in 30 minutes. For the proprioception training combined with motor …show more content…
Each study showed outcomes resulting in improvement in the areas in which people who have suffered from a stroke struggle most. While post-stroke patients have issues coordinating and controlling movements due to the damage to certain parts of the brain, the incorporation of proprioceptive training programs offers a chance to regain these particular aspects of movement so that such individuals may have an improved quality of