A pilot study of attention deficits, balance control and falls in the subacute stage following stroke.
OBJECTIVE
To (1) identify and monitor changes in deficits of attention and balance in the subacute stage following stroke, (2) investigate fall events, (3) explore relationships between deficits of attention, balance and falling post stroke.


METHODS
A prospective observational study.


METHODS
Hospitalized patients with stroke were recruited from a rehabilitation ward.


METHODS
Fourteen subjects were recruited, 13 subjects (age 21-80 years) completed all assessments. Ten had right and three had left hemispheric lesions. Eight subjects were male.


METHODS
Subjects were assessed on two occasions during a six-week period. Standardized tests were used to measure unilateral visual neglect, sustained and selective attention and balance. Fall histories were collected by chart review and semi-structured interview.


RESULTS
At the initial assessment six subjects had sustained auditory attention deficit, eight had deficits of auditory selective attention, 12 had visual selective attention deficits and seven subjects presented with visual inattention. Scores for visual inattention and visual selective attention improved over time (p = 0.006, p = 0.026 respectively) as did scores for balance control (p = 0.001). Auditory selective attention scores at the first assessment were found to correlate with measures of balance (p < 0.01), subjects with normal attention scores achieved better balance scores. Four subjects fell at least once during the six weeks. Scores for attention and balance of fallers were not found to be significantly different from the scores of nonfallers.


CONCLUSIONS
The sample size was small but high levels of attention deficit were identified. Findings suggest a weak or no relationship between attention deficits and falls. Further studies are required to explore the extent of attention deficits post stroke and its impact on balance control and falling.
Stapleton
T
T
Rehabilitation Research Unit, University of Southampton, UK.
Ashburn
A
A
Stack
E
E
D000058:Accidental Falls; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001288:Attention; D001307:Auditory Perception; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests / Q000592:standards; D010865:Pilot Projects; D004856:Postural Balance; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D020521:Stroke / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D014796:Visual Perception