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Table 1 Balance stations

From: Balance circuit classes to improve balance among rehabilitation inpatients: a protocol for a randomised controlled trial

Station

Exercise

Progression

Counting/recording

Catching and passing

Patient to catch and pass a ball with the therapist or another patient

To increase the difficulty of this task the ball can be passed to a distance further than arm’s reach. The task difficulty may also be increased by the patient decreasing their centre of balance by standing with their feet closer together or stand on an unstable surface such as thick foam rubber.

Each attempted catch to be recorded as one repetition.

Stepping forward

Patient to step forward with one leg then step back, continuing with the alternate leg.

To increase the difficulty of the task a block can be used to step up onto.

Every step forward and back to be recorded as one repetition

Sideways stepping

Patient to step sideways.

To increase difficulty of the task the patient can increase their step length or step over an object.

Each step sideways to be recorded as one repetition.

Stepping grid

Patient to step to targets on a board. There should be four targets (one to the right side, one to the left side, one in front of the right foot and one in front of the left foot

To increase difficulty of the task the targets can be moved to a distance further away from the patient. Additional targets may also be placed behind the person to increase the difficulty

Each step is recorded as one repetition

Weight shift forwards and backwards

Patient to shift weight forwards and backwards using a sway meter [19]. Technology such as the Wii platform may be used instead of the Sway meter

To increase the difficulty of the task the patient can follow a shape in various directions

Each full movement is recorded as one repetition

Heel raises

Patient to stand on toes, then lower self down till the feet are flat

To increase the difficulty of the task the patient can perform the heel raises on the edge of a block or on one leg.

Each heel raise is recorded as one repetition

Reaching and moving objects

Patient to reach for an object on one side of their body than move the object to the other side using the same arm

To increase the difficulty of the task the patient may decrease their centre of balance by standing with their feet closer together or stand on an unstable surface

Each movement of the object is recorded as one repetition.