A Cochrane review included seven studies with a total of 246 subjects. A force platform provides the individual with visual and/or auditory feedback while balance activities are performed. Such feedback did not improve clinical measures of balance when moving or walking (Berg Balance Scale and Timed Up and Go). Significant improvements in laboratory force platform indicators of stance symmetry were found for regimens using visual feedback (standardised mean difference (SMD) -0.68, 95% confidence interval (CI) -1.31 to -0.04, p = 0.04) and the concurrent visual and auditory feedback (weighted mean difference (WMD) -4.02, 95% CI -5.99 to -2.04, p = 0.00007). There were no significant effects on laboratory postural sway indicators, clinical outcomes or measures of function at follow-up assessment.
Comment: The quality of evidence is downgraded by imprecise results (limited study size for each comparison) and by indirectness (poor description of interventions).