IMMEDIATE CLINICAL IMPROVEMENT SEEN AFTER BALANCE BODY TORSO WEIGHTING (BBTW) IN A PATIENT WITH SEVERE, CHRONIC CEREBELLAR ATAXIA Andrea Ecsedy PT, NCS, DPT

1
IMMEDIATE CLINICAL IMPROVEMENT SEEN AFTER BALANCE
BODY TORSO WEIGHTING (BBTW) IN A PATIENT WITH
SEVERE, CHRONIC CEREBELLAR ATAXIAAndrea Ecsedy
PT, NCS, DPT

• PURPOSE To assess if the application of Balance
  Body Torso Weighting (BBTW) on a patient with
  chronic and severe cerebellar ataxia would result
  in measurable and objective change.
• CASE DESCRIPTION 52 year old man who suffered a
  brain injury, status post a ranching accident
  resulting in diffuse axonal damage 7 years ago.
• FUNCTION Limited household ambulation with
  minimal assistance using a front wheeled walker.
  The patients activity level has remained
  unchanged over the course of the past seven
  years. Currently, the patient struggles with
  frequent falls which occur primarily while
  transferring or ambulating.
• GOAL Patients goal is to be able to perform
  safe transfers without losses of balance and to
  ambulate with minimal supervision and improved
  confidence.

INTERVENTION Patient was assessed for
BalanceWear vest and weighting utilizing Balance
Body Torso Weighting (BBTW) assessment protocol.
Patient performed tests listed below, before and
after vest application.
TABLE Same session results with and without
addition of BBTW
TEST Pre BBTW Post BBTW Difference MDC threshold
Gait velocity .60 m/sec 1.36 m/sec .76 m/sec .17 m/sec
TUG 32 sec 28 sec 4 sec 4 sec
2MWT 70 .4 m 86 m 15.6 16.4 m
Within same session () indicates MDC was met
CONCLUSION Application of BBTW resulted in
immediate, measurable and objective change in
this patients balance and gait despite the
chronic nature of his condition. Qualitative
assessment of the patients gait also revealed
improved fluidity of movement with improved
posture. The patient also reported an increase
in his confidence while transferring and moving.
CLINICAL MERIT This patient had demonstrated a
functional plateau since his initial course of
rehabilitation which was completed 7 years ago.
His activity level had significantly declined
over the past 5 years secondary to frequent
falls as well as an increasing lack of
confidence in his ability to change position and
ambulate. Improvements in his balance and
confidence were demonstrated by increases in
gait speed and distance . Consequently allowing
this patient to engage in new and more
challenging activities. Patient was able to
resume physical therapy with the addition of BBTW
because of these improvements.
REFERENCES Widener, GL, Alien DD, Gibson-Horn C.
Randomized clinical trial of Balance Body Torso
Weighting for improving upright mobility in
people with multiple sclerosis. Neurorehabil
Neural Repair 200923784-791
Post BBTW
Pre BBTW