title: Randomized controlled trial of truncal exercises early after stroke to improve balance and mobility.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sitting balance and the ability to perform selective truncal movements are important predictors of functional outcome after stroke. However, few clinical trials have evaluated the effect of truncal exercises.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The authors assessed the effect of additional truncal exercises on truncal function, standing balance, and mobility.
  
  
  METHODS
  An assessor-blinded randomized controlled trial was carried out at a stroke rehabilitation hospital. A total of 33 participants (mean 35 days post onset) were randomly assigned to an experimental group (n = 18) or a control group (n = 15). In addition to conventional therapy, the experimental group received 16 hours of truncal exercises. The control group received 16 hours of sham treatment. Truncal function was evaluated by the Trunk Impairment Scale (TIS) and standing balance and mobility by the Tinetti Test. The Romberg with eyes open and eyes closed, Four Test Balance Scale (FTBS), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Rivermead Motor Assessment Battery (RMAB), Functional Ambulation Categories, and Dynamic Gait Index (DGI) were performed to elucidate the findings of the primary outcome measures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A treatment effect was found for the experimental group on the TIS (P < .001), Tinetti Test (P < .001), FTBS (P = .014), BBS (P = .007), RMAB (P < .001), and DGI (P = .006).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In addition to conventional therapy, truncal exercises have a beneficial effect on truncal function, standing balance, and mobility in people after stroke.
authors.affiliation: University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium. wim.saeys@ua.ac.be
authors.forename: Wim
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Saeys
authors.forename: Luc
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vereeck
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Truijen
authors.forename: Christophe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lafosse
authors.forename: Floris P
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: Wuyts
authors.forename: Paul Van de
authors.initials: PV
authors.lastname: Heyning
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015201:Meta-Analysis as Topic; D008875:Middle Aged; D009069:Movement Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D053580:Muscle Strength; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012678:Sensation Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D016896:Treatment Outcome