title: Association Between Evoked Potentials and Balance Recovery in Subacute Hemiparetic Stroke Patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the association between baseline motor evoked potential (MEP) and somatosensory evoked potential (SSEP) responses in the lower extremities and balance recovery in subacute hemiparetic stroke patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  MEPs and SSEPs were evaluated in 20 subacute hemiparetic stroke patients before rehabilitation. Balance (static posturography and Berg Balance Scale [BBS]), motor function (Fugl-Meyer Assessment [FMA]) and the ability to perform activities of daily living (Modified Barthel Index [MBI]) were evaluated before rehabilitation and after four-weeks of rehabilitation. Posturography outcomes were weight distribution indices (WDI) expressed as surface area (WDI-Sa) and pressure (WDI-Pr), and stability indices expressed as surface area (SI-Sa) and length (SI-L). In addition, all parameters were evaluated during eyes open (EO) and eyes closed (EC) conditions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The MEP (+) group showed significant improvements in balance except WDI-Sa (EC), FMA, and MBI, while the MEP (-) group showed significant improvements in the BBS, FMA, and MBI after rehabilitation. The SSEP (+) group showed significant improvements in balance except SI-Sa (EO), FMA, and MBI, while the SSEPs (-) group showed significant improvements in the BBS, MBI after rehabilitation. The changes in the SI-Sa (EO), SI-L (EO), total MBI, and several detailed MBI subscales in the MEP (+) group after rehabilitation were significantly larger than those in the MEP (-) group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggest that initial assessments of MEPs and SSEPs might be beneficial when predicting balance recovery in subacute hemiparetic stroke patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Jeju National University Hospital, Jeju National University School of Medicine, Jeju, Korea.
authors.forename: So Young
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Jeju National University Hospital, Jeju National University School of Medicine, Jeju, Korea.
authors.forename: Bo Ryun
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Jeju National University Hospital, Jeju National University School of Medicine, Jeju, Korea.
authors.forename: Eun Young
authors.initials: EY
authors.lastname: Han
keywords: Balance; Evoked potentials; Prognosis; Recovery of function; Stroke