Abstract
We investigated whether a biofeedback system that provided supplementary vibrotactile sensory cues associated with the center of foot pressure displacement contributes to postural control in a patient with transtibial amputation. Postural stability using a force plate revealed improved stability of the bipedal posture only in the eyes-closed condition, but not in the eyes-open condition, and this effect had a brief carry-over effect. We found that this patient achieved postural control mainly using visual information, and since the vibrotactile biofeedback improved postural stability in the eyes-closed condition, there seems to exist sensory substitution for postural control. This confirms the potential of a haptic-based BF system for balance training, both in routine clinical practice and in everyday life.
