Neurofeedback facilitation enhances post-stroke gait and balance recovery: a randomized trial

Objective: To test the hypothesis that supplementary motor area (SMA) facilitation with functional near-infrared spectroscopy mediated neurofeedback (fNIRS-NFB) augments post-stroke gait and balance recovery using the 3-meter-Timed Up-and-Go (TUG) test, we conducted this two-center, double-blind, randomized controlled trial involving 54 Japanese patients.

Methods: Patients with subcortical stroke-induced mild-to-moderate gait disturbance more than 12 weeks from onset, underwent 6 sessions of SMA neurofeedback facilitation during gait- and balance-related motor imagery using fNIRS-NFB. Participants were randomly allocated to intervention (REAL: 28 patients) or placebo (SHAM: 26 patients) group. In the REAL group, the fNIRS signal contained participants’ cortical activation information. Primary outcome was TUG improvement, 4 weeks post intervention.

Results: The REAL group showed greater improvement in the TUG test (12.84 ± 15.07 s, 95% CI: 7.00-18.68) than the SHAM group (5.51± 7.6...