title: The effects of Bobath-based trunk exercises on trunk control, functional capacity, balance, and gait: a pilot randomized controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Bobath-based individually designed trunk exercises on trunk control, upper and lower extremity function, and walking and balance in stroke patients. The main aim of treatment was to eliminate individual trunk impairments during various patient functions.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was planned as an assessor-blinded, randomized controlled trial. A total of 22 patients volunteered to participate in the study. Trunk function, functional capacity, and gait were assessed with the Trunk Impairment Scale (TIS), stroke rehabilitation assessment of movement (STREAM), and a 10-m walking test, respectively. The Berg Balance Test (BBT), functional reach (FR), and timed up-and-go (TUG) tests were used to evaluate balance. After the initial assessment, the patients were divided randomly into two groups, the study group (12 patients) and the control group (10 patients). The mean age of the patients in the study group was 55.91 years (duration of stroke 58.66 months) and that of the control group was 54.00 years (duration of stroke 67.20 months). Individual training programs were determined for the patients in the study group, taking into consideration their evaluation results; and strengthening, stretching, range of motion, and mat exercises were determined for the control group according to their functional level. The participants in both groups were taken into the physiotherapy program for 12 weeks, 3 days a week for 1 hour a day.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In group analyses, both groups showed improvement in STREAM, TIS, and TUG tests. Only the study group produced significant gains in the BBT, FR, and 10 m walking tests (P < 0.05). According to the pre- and post-treatment results, no significant difference was observed in any of the evaluated parameters between the two groups (P>0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Individually developed exercise programs in the Bobath concept improve trunk performance, balance, and walking ability in stroke patients more than do conventional exercises.
authors.affiliation: Hacettepe University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation , Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Muhammed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kılınç
authors.forename: Fatma
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Avcu
authors.forename: Ozge
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Onursal
authors.forename: Ender
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ayvat
authors.forename: Cevher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Savcun Demirci
authors.forename: Sibel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aksu Yildirim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005080:Exercise Test; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*; D057285:Precision Medicine; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D060726:Torso / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Bobath concept; Individually designed exercises; Stroke rehabilitation; Trunk training