Neuroathletic Training in Stroke Rehabilitation? A Single-blind Randomized Controlled Pilot Study on the Potentials of Neuroathletic Training on Balance Ability in Stroke Outpatient Rehabilitation

Based on anecdotal evidence, neuroathletic training is described as effective for target groups in performance sports, leisure sports and movement therapy. Neuroathletic training is being integrated more and more into practical fields of training, coaching education and therapy. In addition to athletic objectives, it emphasizes to address central nervous system movement control and specific perception exercises, which are included in specific training sessions. It is gaining attention through literature and an increasing number of workshops for practitioners, yet scientific evidence to support effectiveness of therapeutic approaches is lacking. Only few research findings show positive effects in the context of specific neuroathletic exercises. With respect to patients in stroke rehabilitation, exercises to stimulate the visual and vestibular systems were found to be effective for movement rehabilitation. Exploring neuroathletic perceptual exercises to improve balance seems to be promising for the target group. Stroke patients experience deficits in balance and losses in motor function during activities of daily living, therefore temporal precision activity-related stimuli could provide a useful complement of movement therapy to provide targeted support of neuronal plasticity, in order to restore functions over time. Outpatient rehabilitation movement therapy aims to promote physical functions that are important in everyday life, including coordination and balance tasks, in order to enable independent and safe movement. To explore neuroathletic training potentials on balance ability in stroke rehabilitation, a single-blinded controlled pilot study was conducted in a stroke outpatient rehabilitation program.