Sensory Integration Balance Deficits in Complex mTBI: Can Early Initiation of Rehabilitation with Wearable Sensor Technology Improve Outcomes?

Developing a novel feedback system using wearable sensors to provide physical therapists with realtime information about quality of head and trunk movement during exercise could improve patient rehabilitation practices.

Army Medical Research and Materiel Command, Fort Detrick, Maryland

Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is common both in civilian and military populations and can be debilitating if symptoms do not resolve after injury. Balance problems are one of the most common complaints after sustaining an mTBI and often prevent people from returning to their previous quality of life. However, clear guidelines are currently lacking on when to initiate physical therapy rehabilitation and it is unclear if early physical therapy is beneficial.

It is believed that the underlying problem of imbalance results from damage to parts of the brain responsible for interpreting sensory information for balance control. It is hypothesized that retraining the brain early, as opposed to months after injury, to correctly interpret sensory information will improve recovery. It is also believed this retraining is limited when rehabilitation exercises are performed incorrectly, and that performance feedback from wearable sensors, can improve balance rehabilitation.