Article

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effect of core stability exercises on trunk control,
dynamic sitting and standing balance, gait, and activities of daily living in
subacute stroke patients. DESIGN: A randomized controlled trial. SETTING:
Inpatient rehabilitation hospital in two centres. SUBJECTS:
Eighty patients (mean
of 23.25 (+/-16.7) days post-stroke) were randomly assigned to an experimental
group and a control group. INTERVENTIONS: Both groups underwent conventional
therapy for five days/week for five weeks and the experimental group performed
core stability exercises for 15 min/day. The patients were assessed before and
after intervention. MAIN MEASURES: The Trunk Impairment Scale (Spanish-Version)
and Function in Sitting Test were used to measure the primary outcome of dynamic
sitting balance. Secondary outcome measures were standing balance and gait as
evaluated via Berg Balance Scale, Tinetti Test, Brunel Balance Assessment,
Postural Assessment Scale for Stroke (Spanish-Version), and activities of daily
living using Barthel Index. RESULTS: The experimental group showed statistically
significant differences for all of the total scale scores (P<0.05), except for
the sitting section of the Brunel Balance Assessment. The mean (SD) difference
between groups in Trunk Impairment Scale total score was 3.40 (+/-4.12) points,
and its subscale dynamic sitting balance was 2.28 (+/-3.29). The Berg Balance
Scale was 14.54 (+/-18.19) points, and the Barthel Index was 13.17 (+/-25.27)
points. Collectively, these results were in favour of the experimental group.
CONCLUSIONS: Core stability exercises in addition to conventional therapy
improves trunk control, dynamic sitting balance, standing balance, gait and
activities of daily living in subacute post-stroke patients.
CI - (c) The Author(s) 2015.

Langue : ANGLAIS