Effectiveness of Haptic Feedback on Balance, Gait, and Upper-Limb Recovery in Neurological Disorders

Abstract

Background: Neurological disorders frequently cause persistent impairments in postural control, gait, coordination, proprioception, and upper-limb function. Haptic feedback technologies provide tactile, vibrotactile, kinaesthetic, or force-based information that may enhance movement awareness and task-specific motor learning, although their effectiveness across neurological conditions remains uncertain. Objective: To evaluate the reported effects of haptic feedback-based rehabilitation on balance, gait performance, functional mobility, and upper-limb recovery among individuals with neurological disorders. Methods: A structured review of clinical studies published between 2020 and 2025 was undertaken. Studies involving individuals with stroke, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, or traumatic brain injury were considered when they evaluated wearable, robotic, virtual-reality-based, force-feedback, or tactile cueing interventions and reported quantitative balance, gait, mobility, or upper-limb outcomes. Findings were synthesized descriptively because of variation in diagnoses, technologies, treatment protocols, and outcome measures. Results: Eighteen studies involving 462 participants were included. The reported Berg Balance Scale score increased by 9.3 points, Timed Up and Go performance improved by 5.4 seconds, walking speed increased by 0.24 m/s, and Functional Ambulation Category increased by 1.1 points. The upper-extremity Fugl-Meyer Assessment improved by 14.1 points, Box and Block Test performance increased by 12.4 blocks per minute, and movement accuracy increased by 18.1 percentage points. Descriptive comparisons favored haptic feedback combined with conventional rehabilitation over conventional therapy alone, although formal pooled effect estimates could not be established. Conclusion: Haptic feedback represents a promising adjunct to conventional neurological rehabilitation and may improve balance, gait, mobility, and upper-limb function. Standardized, diagnosis-specific randomized trials are required to establish optimal protocols, long-term effectiveness, safety, and cost-effectiveness