ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of cerebellar intermittent theta-burst stimulation (iTBS) on postural control and fall risk in stroke patients. MethodsFrom October, 2024 to August, 2025, 45 stroke patients were recruited from Huadong Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University. They were randomly divided into control group (n = 15), group A (n = 15) and group B (n = 15). All the groups received conventional medication and rehabilitation. Group A was additionally administered iTBS over the ipsilesional primary motor cortex (M1), while group B received iTBS over the contralesional cerebellum, for three weeks. Before and after intervention, postural stability indexes (eyes open/closed), limits of stability, directional control score and reaction time were measured using Biodex Balance System, and they were assessed with Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Timed Up & Go Test (TUGT) and 10-meter walk test (10MWT). ResultsAfter intervention, significant group-time interaction effects were observed for eyes open/closed postural stability indexes, limits of stability, directional control score, reaction time, BBS score, TUGT and 10MWT (F > 23.487, P < 0.001). All the groups improved in all the indexes after intervention (P < 0.01). The eyes open/closed postural stability indexes, limits of stability, directional control score and reaction time were the best in group B, followed by group A, and the worst in the control group (P < 0.05), while BBS, TUGT and 10MWT were better in groups A and B than in the control group (P < 0.05). ConclusionCerebellar iTBS can effectively improve postural control disorders and reduce fall risk in stroke patients, and may be superior to M1 iTBS.

BACKGROUND:Impaired postural control is an important risk factor for falls and secondary damage in patients with idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus.Most of the existing studies have analyzed the gait parameters of patients during straight-line walking,but few have analyzed the postural stability characteristics of patients during static and dynamic activities. OBJECTIVE:To analyze the characteristics of postural stability in elderly patients with idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus. METHODS:Twenty-two patients clinically diagnosed with idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus at the Department of Neurosurgery,Huadong Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University,Shanghai,China,from September 2022 to February 2023 were selected as the patient group,and 18 healthy accompanying family members were selected as the healthy control group.The postural stability characteristics of the subjects were assessed using the Timed Up-and-Go Test,Multi-Directional Reach Test,Berg Balance Scale,and Static Balance Function Test(reaction time,speed of movement,directional control,maximum offset distance,and endpoint travel). RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The time required to complete the Timed Up-and-Go Test was significantly longer in the patient group than in the healthy control group(P＜0.05).The results of the stretching test in the four directions of anterior,posterior,leftand right were significantly lower in the patient group than in the healthy control group(P＜0.05).The Berg Balance Scale scores in the patient group were lower than those in the healthy control group(P＜0.05).In the Static Balance Function Test,the results of reaction,movement speed,directional control,maximum offset distance and endpoint travel index were smaller in the patient group than the healthy control group(P＜0.05).To conclude,patients with idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus exhibit overall postural control deficits,and impaired reaction and execution abilities make these patients unable to make timely and accurate motor responses in the face of disturbances from internal or external sources,resulting in postural instability and increasing the risk of falls.

Objective To explore the difference in balance ability and motor control between the elder and the young.Methods From July,2022 to February,2025,30 older adults(older group)and 30 young individuals(young group)were recruited in Huadong Hospital.Both groups underwent sensory organization test using a computerized dynamic posture recording system.Balance scores under six conditions,composite equilibrium score and strategy scores were recorded.The contributions of vision,somatosensation and vestibular function to balance under different stance conditions were analyzed.Results The balance scores were lower in the older group than in the young group under the conditions of eyes open/un-stable surface,eyes closed/unstable surface,and visual conflict/unstable surface(t>3.887,P<0.05),as well as the composite equilibrium score(t=5.603,P<0.05),visual and vestibular scores(t>3.815,P<0.05),and strat-egy scores under all six conditions(t>2.496,P<0.05).Conclusion Posture control ability decreases in older adults,mainly for decreasing visual and vestibular inputs and im-pairing in ankle and hip strategies.

Objective To explore the difference in balance ability and motor control between the elder and the young.Methods From July,2022 to February,2025,30 older adults(older group)and 30 young individuals(young group)were recruited in Huadong Hospital.Both groups underwent sensory organization test using a computerized dynamic posture recording system.Balance scores under six conditions,composite equilibrium score and strategy scores were recorded.The contributions of vision,somatosensation and vestibular function to balance under different stance conditions were analyzed.Results The balance scores were lower in the older group than in the young group under the conditions of eyes open/un-stable surface,eyes closed/unstable surface,and visual conflict/unstable surface(t>3.887,P<0.05),as well as the composite equilibrium score(t=5.603,P<0.05),visual and vestibular scores(t>3.815,P<0.05),and strat-egy scores under all six conditions(t>2.496,P<0.05).Conclusion Posture control ability decreases in older adults,mainly for decreasing visual and vestibular inputs and im-pairing in ankle and hip strategies.

Objective To explore the factors affecting the fall risks in stroke patients,and predict the level of fall risk. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted.A total of 64 stroke patients in Huadong Hospital from July,2022 to January,2024 were enrolled.The patient's demographic data,functional indicators and walking indicator,includ-ing gender,age,height,weight,stroke type,course of disease,WHO Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0(WHO-DAS 2.0),simplified Fugl-Meyer Assessment(FMA),Functional Reaching Test(FRT),Multi-Directional Reach Test(MDRT),Montreal Cognitive Assessment(MoCA)and Timed Up and Go Test were recorded.Using the risk level of falls in stroke patients as the dependent variable,first,a univariate analysis was conducted,and then dis-criminant analysis was followed to observe the risk factors for falls in stroke patients. Results All the included stroke patients had an average age of approximately 66 years old,more males than females,and more cerebral infarction patients than cerebral hemorrhage patients.The average course of the disease was(4.50±6.02)months.There were 19,26 and 19 stroke patients with mild,moderate and severe fall risk levels,respective-ly.One-way analysis of variance showed that the scores of WHODAS 2.0,FMA,FMA-Upper Extremities(FMA-UE),FMA-Lower Extremities(FMA-LE),FRT,MDRT-Forward(MDRT-F),MDRT-Right(MDRT-R)and Mo-CA were significantly differenct among stroke patients with different fall risk levels(F>2.277,P<0.05).Dis-criminant analysis showed that patients with different fall risk levels had different functional parameter equa-tions,using the retrospective method,the accuracy rates of Fisher discriminant function and Bayes discriminant function were 75%and 78.1%,and the misjudgment rates were 25%and 21.9%,respectively. Conclusion Activity and participation ability,upper and lower extremity motor function,stability limits of the forward and right direction and cognitive function are related factors to the risk level of falls.It could predicte the risk lev-el of falls by establishing a discriminant function through functional indicators.