RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Stroke is a major cause of disability with mainly affecting trunk mobility and function. The purpose of this study is to determine the effectiveness of core stabilization exercises versus conventional therapy on trunk mobility, function, ambulation, and quality of life of stroke patients. DESIGN: Assessor blinded randomized control trial. SETTING: Ibrahim polyclinic-Shadman, Ch Muhammad Akram teaching hospital-Raiwind, Rasheed hospital-Defence. SUBJECTS: Chronic ischemic stroke patients. INTERVENTION: Control group (n = 21) underwent conventional treatment for stroke for 40 min/ day, 5 times/ week for 8 weeks. Experimental group (n = 20) received core stability training for additional 15 min along with conventional treatment. MAIN MEASURES: Main outcome measures were Trunk impairment scale (TIS), functional ambulation category (FAC), stroke specific quality of life (SSQOL) and trunk range of motion (ROM). RESULTS: The differences between the control group and experimental group post-treatment were statistically significant for trunk impairment, functional ambulation, quality of life, and frontal plane trunk motion (p-value < 0.05) with higher mean values for core stabilization training. The frontal plane trunk mobility and rotation showed non-significant differences post-treatment (p-value > 0.05). CONCLUSION: This study concluded that core stabilization training is better as compared to the conventional physical therapy treatment for improving trunk impairments, functional ambulation and quality of life among patients of stroke. The core stabilization training is also more effective in improving trunk mobility in sagittal plane. This study is registered in Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials IRCT20210614051578N1 and was approved by the local research ethics committee of Riphah International University.
RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of Whole-Body Vibration (WBV) and Routine Physiotherapy (RP) on obstacle crossing and stair negotiation time in chronic stroke patients. METHODS: The current study was randomized, parallel-group, assessor-blinded, clinical trial conducted in Physiotherapy Department of Lahore General Hospital, involving 64 patients with chronic stroke. Patients were randomly allocated to 2 groups, i.e., the WBV group (n = 32) and the RP group (n = 32). The WBV group was given additional twelve sessions of vibration therapy (amplitude of 3 mm and frequency of 20 Hz), 6 days/week for 2 weeks. The outcome measures were change in score of height and depth of obstacles cleared, i.e., 6, 8, 10 & 12 inches height and 6, 8, 10 & 12 inches depth and stair negotiation time, i.e., Stair-Climb Test. Chi square test, Independent sample t-test and Paired sample t-test were used to analyze the data. RESULTS: Results show that higher number of patients improved in crossing the maximum height and maximum depth of obstacles in the WBV group but improvement was significant only in height, i.e., (p < 0.05). In the WBV group, Stair Negotiation Time decreased significantly as compared to the RP group, i.e., (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The present study concluded that both study groups, i.e., RP and WBV, improved despite better results for the latter. Speed of stair climbing and capacity to cross obstacles improved with the WBV therapy in chronic stroke survivors. TRIAL REGISTRATION: IRCT, IRCT20190328043131N1. Registered 03 august 2019 - Retrospectively registered, https://www.irct.ir/user/trial/38832/view.