Effects of Trunk Exercise on Trunk Control and Balance in Persons With Stroke

National Cheng Kung University

Status and phase: Completed; Phase 2; Phase 1

Conditions: Cerebrovascular Accident; Balance Impairment

Treatments: Other: Upper limb range of motion exercise; Other: trunk exercise on unstable exercise

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT04434443

B-ER-106-428

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study examined the effects of trunk exercise on unstable surfaces on trunk control and balance for persons in the sub-acute stage of stroke. The hypothesis was that, compared to upper limb exercises in well supported sitting position, this exercise would lead to better trunk control and sitting and standing balance. The results supported the hypothesis.

Full description

Inpatients in the sub-acute stage of stroke were randomly assigned to receive upper limb range of motion exercises in well supported sitting position or trunk exercises on unstable surfaces in supine and sitting, 30 min per session, 2 sessions per week for 6 weeks, in addition to their daily conventional stroke rehabilitation. Sensorimotor functions, including hand grip strength, plantar sensitivity, stroke rehabilitation assessment of movement and Fugl-Meyer lower extremity motor scale, and clinical outcome assessments, including Trunk Impairment Scale and 6-meter walk test, were conducted by a blinded assessor. Biomechanical outcome measures included center of pressure area while maintaining static posture and peak displacement while leaning forward, and the average speed of the unaffected arm raising (to represent the ability to provide a stable foundation for focal movement). These measures were taken in sitting without foot support, sitting with foot support and standing to reflect trunk control, sitting balance and standing balance, respectively.

Enrollment: 35 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 20 to 80 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• age: between 20-80 years old
• first time stroke
• could sit without back support at least 20 seconds
• could understand and follow experimental instructions

Exclusion criteria

• medically unstable
• other neuromuscular/musculoskeletal problems that would affect balance

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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35 participants in 2 patient groups

trunk exercise on unstable surface

Experimental group

Description:

trunk exercise training in supine and sitting positions, with unstable surfaces

Treatment:

Other: trunk exercise on unstable exercise

upper limb range of motion exercise

Sham Comparator group

Description:

upper limb range of motion exercise in sitting with back fully supported

Treatment:

Other: Upper limb range of motion exercise