Use of biological vicarious biofeedback in the rehabilitation of patients with brain damage
Kwolek, A.; Pop, T.
Neurologia i Neurochirurgia Polska Suppl. 1: 321-327
1992
ISSN/ISBN: 0028-3843 PMID: 1407318 Document Number: 396516
The mechanisms of feedback not controlled by our consciousness play an essential role in the functions of the central nervous system in the process of programming of activities, behaviour and control of these functions. In case of deviations or errors of activities the possibility of their immediate correction exists. Brain damage after trauma or caused by tumour disturbs these normal feedback mechanisms producing very varying symptom complexes. In such cases it is advantageous to introduce vicarious feedback based mainly on visual and auditory afferentation. The authors present own original methods used in the rehabilitation of such patients using vicarious feedback with elbow crutch with light and sound signalling in walk learning, and platform for attitude stability exercises. The earlier obtained results of rehabilitation by this method in a large group of patients after stroke, and preliminary observations of patients after trauma and after tumour operations justify recommendation of the method.