Core stabilization exercise with real-time feedback for chronic hemiparetic stroke: a pilot randomized controlled...

Area of Science:

• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Neuroscience
• Physical Therapy

Background:

• Chronic hemiparetic stroke often leads to significant impairments in balance and gait function.
• Restoring motor function and improving mobility are critical goals in stroke rehabilitation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the feasibility and effectiveness of core stabilization exercise with real-time feedback.
• To assess the impact of this intervention on balance and gait in chronic hemiparetic stroke patients.

Main Methods:

• Nineteen patients with chronic hemiparetic stroke were randomly assigned to an experimental (n=10) or control (n=9) group.
• The experimental group underwent 6 weeks of core stabilization exercise with real-time feedback (30 min/day).
• The control group performed core stabilization exercise without feedback for the same duration. Gait kinematics and Timed Up and Go (TUG) test were assessed.

Main Results:

• The experimental group demonstrated significantly greater improvements in gait velocity (7.3 ± 5.0 sec) compared to the control group (-0.7 ± 10.6).
• Stride length increased significantly more in the experimental group (affected side: 13.2 ± 7.9; less affected side: 12.6 ± 8.0) than in the control group (affected side: 3.5 ± 8.7; less affected side: 3.4 ± 8.5).
• The experimental group also showed significantly greater improvement in the TUG test results.

Conclusions:

• Core stabilization exercise incorporating real-time feedback is more effective than exercise alone for improving gait performance in chronic hemiparetic stroke survivors.
• Real-time feedback enhances the benefits of core stabilization exercises for functional recovery after stroke.