Article

OBJECTIVE: Analyse the effect of core stability exercises in addition to
conventional physiotherapy training three months after the intervention ended.
DESIGN: A randomized controlled trial. SETTING: Outpatient services. SUBJECTS:
Seventy-nine stroke survivors. INTERVENTIONS: In the intervention period, both
groups underwent conventional physiotherapy performed five days/week for five
weeks, and in addition the experimental group performed core stability exercises
for 15 minutes/day. Afterwards, during a three-month follow-up period, both
groups underwent usual care that could eventually include conventional
physiotherapy or physical exercise but not in a controlled condition. MAIN
MEASURES: Primary outcome was trunk control and dynamic sitting balance assessed
by the Spanish-Version of Trunk Impairment Scale 2.0 and Function in Sitting
Test. Secondary outcomes were standing balance and gait evaluated by the Berg
Balance Scale, Tinetti Test, Brunel Balance Assessment, Spanish-Version of
Postural Assessment Scale for Stroke and activities of daily living using the
Barthel Index. RESULTS: A total of 68 subjects out of 79 completed the
three-month follow-up period. The mean difference (SD) between groups was 0.78
(1.51) points ( p = 0.003) for total score on the Spanish-Version of Trunk
Impairment Scale 2.0, 2.52 (6.46) points ( p = 0.009) for Function in Sitting
Test, dynamic standing balance was 3.30 (9.21) points ( p= 0.009) on the Berg
Balance Scale, gait was 0.82 (1.88) points ( p = 0.002) by Brunel Balance
Assessment (stepping), and 1.11 (2.94) points ( p = 0.044) by Tinetti Test
(gait), all in favour of core stability exercises. CONCLUSIONS: Core stability
exercises plus conventional physiotherapy have a positive long-term effect on
improving dynamic sitting and standing balance and gait in post-stroke patients.

Langue : ANGLAIS