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Case Reports
. 2018 Mar 5:5:6.
doi: 10.1186/s40673-018-0084-z. eCollection 2018.

The combined effect of cranial-nerve non-invasive neuromodulation with high-intensity physiotherapy on gait and balance in a patient with cerebellar degeneration: a case report

Andisheh Bastani  1   2 , L Eduardo Cofré Lizama  1   2 , Maryam Zoghi  3 , Grant Blashki  4 , Stephen Davis  5 , Andrew H Kaye  6 , Fary Khan  1   2   4 , Mary P Galea  1   2
Affiliations
Case Reports

The combined effect of cranial-nerve non-invasive neuromodulation with high-intensity physiotherapy on gait and balance in a patient with cerebellar degeneration: a case report

Andisheh Bastani et al. Cerebellum Ataxias. .

Abstract

Background: Cranial-nerve non-invasive neuromodulation (CN-NINM) using the portable neuromodulation stimulator (PoNS™) device has been proposed as a novel adjuvant intervention to improve efficacy of gait and balance. This device modulates input and output signals during motor tasks which prompts neuroplastic changes. In this study, we investigated the efficacy of physiotherapy using the PoNS™ in a case with cerebellar degeneration.

Case presentation: The PoNS™ was used during a high-intensity physiotherapy programme delivered over 2 weeks (2 × 1.5 h sessions daily). Clinical and instrumented gait and balance tests were applied pre- and post-intervention.

Results: The patient improved in all tests without any adverse effects.

Conclusion: This study showed the efficacy and feasibility of combined high-intensity physiotherapy and CN-NINM for gait and balance rehabilitation. Further studies should explore CN-NINM effects in larger and more diverse samples of neurological patients.

Keywords: Neuroplasticity; Portable neuromodulation stimulator; Stroke; Tongue stimulator.

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Conflict of interest statement

Prof Fary Khan was the authorised prescriber of CN-NINM approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) of Australia and the Melbourne Health Human Research Ethics Committee.Not applicableThe authors declare that they have no competing interests.Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Pre and Post intervention posturographic measurements of balance during double support (DS) and tandem (TS) stance
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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