Evidence map›Paper›PMID 26925955›Full record

Trial reportJournal of neuroengineering and rehabilitation2016

The effect of balance training on postural control in people with multiple sclerosis using the CAREN virtual reality system: a pilot randomized controlled trial.

Alon Kalron, Ilia Fonkatz, Lior Frid, Hani Baransi, Anat Achiron

Abstract readComparative StudyRandomized Controlled Trial
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Trial report in Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitation, 2016. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 57 papers, 10 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
57citing papers in PubMed, 10 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

57 citing papers in PubMed, 10 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

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  2. Virtual reality for multiple sclerosis rehabilitation.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2025
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  10. Interventions for preventing falls in people with multiple sclerosis.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2019
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Alon KalronDepartment of Physical Therapy, School of Health Professions, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel. alkalron@gmail.com.
Ilia FonkatzThe Multiple Sclerosis Center, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Israel. Ilia.Fonkatz@sheba.health.gov.il.
Lior FridThe Multiple Sclerosis Center, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Israel. Lior.Frid@sheba.health.gov.il.
Hani BaransiThe Center of Advanced Technologies in Rehabilitation, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Israel. Hani.Baransi@sheba.health.gov.il.
Anat AchironThe Multiple Sclerosis Center, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Israel. Anat.Achiron@sheba.health.gov.il.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundMultiple sclerosis (MS) is a multi-focal progressive disorder of the central nervous system often resulting in diverse clinical manifestations. Imbalance appears in most people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS). A popular balance training tool is virtual reality (VR) with several advantages including increased compliance and user satisfaction. Therefore, the aim of this pilot RCT (Trial registration number, date: ISRCTN14425615, 21/01/2016) was to examine the efficacy of a 6-week VR balance training program using the computer assisted rehabilitation environment (CAREN) system (Motek Medical BV, Amsterdam, Netherlands) on balance measures in PwMS. Results were compared with those of a conventional balance exercise group. Secondary aims included the impact of this program on the fear of falling.

methodsThirty-two PwMS were equally randomized into the VR intervention group or the control group. Each group received balance training sessions for 6 consecutive weeks, two sessions per week, 30 min sessions. Clinical balance tests and instrumented posturography outcome measures were collected upon initiation of the intervention programs and at termination.

resultsFinal analysis included 30 patients (19 females, 11 males; mean age, (S.D.) = 45.2 (11.6) years; mean EDSS (S.D.) = 4.1 (1.3), mean disease duration (S.D.) = 11.0 (8.9) years). Both groups showed a main effect of time on the center of pressure (CoP) path length with eyes open (F = 5.278, P = .024), sway rate with eyes open (F = 5.852, P = .035), Functional Reach Test (F = 20.841, P = .001), Four Square Step Test (F = 9.011, P = .031) and the Fear of Falls self-reported questionnaire (F = 17.815, P = .023). In addition, significant differences in favor of the VR program were observed for the group x time interactions of the Functional Reach Test (F = 10.173, P = .009) and fear of falling (F = 6.710, P = .021).

conclusionsWe demonstrated that balance training based on the CAREN device is an effective method of balance training for PwMS.

Indexed as

Postural BalanceUser-Computer InterfaceAccidental FallsAdultExercise TherapyFearFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedMultiple SclerosisPhysical Therapy ModalitiesPilot ProjectsPsychomotor PerformanceTherapy, Computer-AssistedTreatment Outcome

Identifiers

PMID26925955
PMCPMC4772661

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.