title: Deliberately Light Interpersonal Touch as an Aid to Balance Control in Neurologic Conditions.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to quantify the benefit of externally provided deliberately light interpersonal touch (IPT) on body sway in neurological patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  IPT effect on sway was assessed experimentally across differing contacting conditions in a group of 12 patients with Parkinson's disease and a group of 11 patients with chronic hemiparetic stroke.
  
  
  METHODS
  A pressure plate recorded sway when IPT was provided by a healthcare professional at various locations on a patient's back.
  
  
  RESULTS
  IPT on the back reduced anteroposterior body sway in both groups. Numerically, IPT was more effective when applied more superior on the back, specifically at shoulder level, and when applied at two contact locations simultaneously.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings demonstrate the benefit of deliberately light IPT on the back to facilitate patients' postural stability.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Deliberately light IPT resembles a manual handling strategy, which minimizes load imposed on healthcare professionals when providing balance support, while it facilitates patients' own sensorimotor control of body balance during standing.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Sport and Health Sciences, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany2 Behavioural Brain Sciences Centre, School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK3 National Institute of Conductive Education, Birmingham, UK4 Swanson School of Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Leif
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Johannsen
authors.forename: Evelyn
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: McKenzie
authors.forename: Melanie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: Mark S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Redfern
authors.forename: Alan M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Wing
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D010291:Paresis / Q000534:rehabilitation; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000534:rehabilitation; D004856:Postural Balance; D019145:Rehabilitation Nursing / Q000379:methods; D014110:Touch