The Application of Sling Exercise Training in People With Chronic Stroke

National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Chronic Stroke

Treatments: Other: Conventional balance training; Other: Sling exercise training

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT05352009

YM111016F

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this single-blinded, randomized controlled study aims to investigate the effects of sling exercise training (SET) for core muscle on gait performance in people with chronic stroke.

Full description

Background and purpose: Balance and gait performance are often impaired in people post stroke. Evidence showed positive correlations between trunk control and balance and walking ability. Previous studies applying core muscle training reported positive effects on improving trunk control and sitting balance among patients with chronic stroke, but benefits on standing balance and gait performance remain undetermined. Sling exercise training (SET) has been suggested for improving core muscle stability and strength in people with stroke. However, studies about effects of SET on gait performance in stroke populations are limited. Therefore, the present study aims to investigate the effects of SET for core muscle on gait performance in people with chronic stroke.

Methods: Thirty-eight individuals with chronic stroke will be recruited and assigned to one of the two groups by randomization, sling exercise training group and conventional training group. The training is 30 minutes per session, 3 sessions per week for total of 4 weeks. Gait performance is the primary outcome to include gait speed, stride length, single leg support time and temporal and spatial symmetry measured by GAITRite® System. Secondary outcomes include balance, timed up-and-go (TUG) test and trunk performance. All outcomes will be assessed before, after the 4-week training program and at 4-week follow-up.

Enrollment: 19 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 20 to 80 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Stroke after onset ≥ 6 months
• Trunk impairment scale (TIS) score ≤ 21 at baseline
• Brunnstrome stage ≥ IV over the affected lower extremity
• Ability to independently walk for 10 meters with or without assistive devices
• Intact cognition with mini-mental state examination (MMSE) ≥ 24

Exclusion criteria

• Any other significant musculoskeletal disorder, neurological disease or cardiovascular disease that may affect the participation in this study.
• Vision or language deficit that may affect participating in this study.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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19 participants in 2 patient groups

Sling exercise training group

Experimental group

Description:

Participants will practice core muscle exercise in different positions with sling systems (Redcord®, Norway).

Treatment:

Other: Sling exercise training

Conventional training group

Active Comparator group

Description:

Participants will practice balance exercise, including sit-to-stand, forward reaching, postural training on the therapeutic ball, maintaining standing balance with eyes open and progress to eyes close, and tandem stance.

Treatment:

Other: Conventional balance training