Why Voluntary Postural Training Improves Recovery of Mental and Motor Functions in Patients with Traumatic Brain Injury

There are data about the positive effect of rehabilitation with postural training in traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients. Brain mechanisms of functional recovery have been investigated insufficiently. In this study, functional recovery was examined in TBI patients with primary motor (20 patients) or higher mental impairment (10 patients)—post-traumatic Korsakov syndrome compared to healthy volunteers (n = 20). Integral clinical, stabilographic, and EEG approach was used as a tool for estimation of functional deficit in TBI patients before and after rehabilitation course. Specific alterations of stabilographic and EEG parameters were observed in TBI patients with primary motor or mental deficit before rehabilitation. Rehabilitation course with postural training improved recovery of all functions in both patient groups. To understand brain mechanisms of rehabilitation, we examined EEG findings during standing and postural task performance in healthy volunteers (n = 10). EEG coherence increase was marked for different spectral bands predominantly in the right hemisphere and more in alpha-2 and beta bands during postural task performance. These EEG findings were discussed in relation to rehabilitation effect on TBI patients and proved that postural training with visual feedback may provoke primary activation of the right hemisphere and can serve as a trigger for integration of cortical and subcortical structures and for recovery of motor and higher mental function in TBI patients.