Investigating the effects of BBTW on improving balance in PN patients Hasan Askari, MD*, Christine Tilburg, PT, Robert Burger, PT, Mohammad Salajegheh, MD MethodsAbstract Background Results ConclusionsReferences OBJECTIVE: Investigating the effects of BBTW on improving balance in PN patients BACKGROUND:Falls are a major debilitating complication in peripheral neuropathy (PN) patients 1,2. There is no known therapy unless a reversible cause is identified and recovery is limited in these cases. Treatment with strategic weight placements using Balance Based torso-weighting® (BBTW) and BalanceWear® vest has been previously shown to improve balance and lead to decreased falls in MS patients 3,4,5. DESIGN/METHODS:11 PN patients, 4 males and 7 females, ages (mean 69.6) years with imbalance were assessed. The diagnosis of PN was made based on history, exam and electrodiagnostic studies. Gait abnormalities, imbalance and fall tendencies were determined prospectively using Sensory Organization Test (SOT) on SMART EquiTest® BalanceMaster, Dynamic gait index (DGI), Hendrich II Fall scale and Timed up and Go (TUG), before and after strategic placement of weights, based on the Balanced Based Torso Weighting (BBTW) method. The SOT is a composite score (CS) that measures quiet standing and stability in fall prone conditions. Relevant paired t-tests were performed with alpha set at RESULTS: Various measurements of balance and gait demonstrated statistically significant improvement post-weight placement using the BBTW method, compared with pre-weighting, including SOT-CS (831 compared with 715; mean 65 compared with 76 p=0.003), Hendrich Fall scale (34 compared with 60; mean 3 compared with 6 p= ) and TUG (54 compared with 94; mean 11 compared with 19 p=0.004). The DGI showed improvement (57 compared with 47; mean 14.5 compared to 19.5) but did not reach statistical significance (p=0.06). CONCLUSIONS: BBTW leads to significant and objective improvement in balance and fall reduction in patients with peripheral neuropathy. Further research is being carried out to confirm and further expand these findings. ©Hasan Askari, MD – PIN 2015 Balance-Based Torso-Weighting Protocol Patient stood with their feet in the Romberg position Observation of body sway Resistive Rotations and Perturbations applied at upper and lower torso Anterior Posterior Lateral Small Weighted TSIs were applied strategically in BalanceWear to improve the loss of balance and alleviate the rotational asymmetry found in the BBTW 3,4,5. Peripheral neuropathy is a major cause of imbalance and falls 1. Balance-Based Torso-Weighting® (BBTW) is a new treatment for balance and gait impairment. BBTW is associated with improving balance and gait in several studies in people with MS 3,4,5. During BBTW, patient-specific directional static and dynamic imbalance is identified in all planes of movement while the patient stands in the Romberg position. Perturbations and rotations are tested and rated from no loss [0] to loss in all direction equaling a fall [48]. BalanceWear® Therapy (BWT) involves obtaining a customized balance orthosis the patient wears with strategically placed Targeted Somatosensory Inputs (TSIs) in the form of small weights titrated to improve three dimensional control of balance in the Romberg position and during ambulation 3,4,5. This case report series is the first to demonstrate the use and beneficial impact of BalanceWear® Therapy (BWT) causing a significant and immediate reduction of fall risk in patients with profound peripheral neuropathy, unsteady gait, high fall risk and frequent, near daily, falls. BalanceWear® Therapy was instantaneously effective in decreasing fall risk, improving balance and ambulation in all patients with peripheral neuropathy as noted by the improvements in well known fall measurement indices viz., Hendrich Fall scale, SOT-CS, TUG and DGI scores. Studies on long term impact of BalanceWear® therapy in preventing falls are ongoing at this time. 1.Richardson JK, Hurvitz EA. Peripheral Neuropathy: A True Risk Factor for Falls (1995) J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci (1995) 50A (4): M211- M215 2.Shumway-Cook A, Horak FB. Assessing the influence of sensory interaction of balance. Suggestion from the field (1986). Phys Ther 66(10): Gorgas AM, Widener GL, Gibson-Horn C, Allen DD. Gait changes with balance-based torso-weighting in people with multiple sclerosis (2015). Physiother Res Int 20(1): Hunt CM, Widener G, Allen DD. Variability in postural control with and without balance-based torso-weighting in people with multiple sclerosis and healthy controls (2014). Whys Ther 94(10): Widener GL, Allen DD, Gibson-Horn C. Randomized clinical trial of balance-based torso weighting for improving upright mobility in people with multiple sclerosis (2009). Neurorehabil Neural Repair 23(8): Instantaneous Improvement in mean TUG Scores Decrease Fall Risk TSIs Instantaneous Improvement in mean Hendrich II Fall Scale Decrease Fall Risk Results Pts.Gender (M/F)Age (years)DiagnosisFalls/day 114 M & 7 F44-89 Mean age 69.6 Peripheral Neuropathy 1-3 Demographics Instantaneous Improvement in mean SOT Scores Decrease Fall Risk P= P=0.004 Pre B-Wear RxPost B-Wear Rx P=0.003 Pre B-Wear RxPost B-Wear Rx Pre B-Wear RxPost B-Wear Rx