INTRODUCTION: TThe hemiparesis is a partial compromise of the hemisphere that alters the balance, which is essential for the functional activities. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the balance in hemiparetic patients undergoing balance training with the Wii Fit (WG) program that served as a resource for visual biofeedback. METHOD: We studied 12 hemiparetic patients after stroke, 5 males and 7 females, mean age 58 ± 12.57 years old, were randomly divided into two groups. One group performed conventional physiotherapy (CP) for a period of one hour, the other group performed the traditional physical therapy for thirty minutes and thirty more minutes of balance training with the help of the Wii Fit (WG), twice weekly for five weeks, completing ten sessions. Balance was assessed before and after intervention by the application of the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and stabilometry which measures the oscillation of pressure center (COP) in anteroposterior axis (AP) and mediolateral (ML), a pressure platform in two conditions, with eyes opened (EO) and eyes closed (EC). RESULTS: According to the BSE, patients from both the CG and the WG, have gained more control of static and dynamic balance. In assessing the COP in ML axis, the subjects of the CG and WG ML oscillation had decreased after the proposed intervention for each group, under the EO and EC. In the AP axis of the COP, the CG had no decrease in the AP oscillation of EO and EC, and WG had a decrease in the AP oscillation in OA and OF. CONCLUSION: This study shows that physiotherapy combined with balance training with Wii Fit presents significant results in the rehabilitation of hemiparetic subjects, thereby obtaining another therapeutic option in physiotherapy.
Postural balance; Stroke; Feedback sensory
