Clinical factors associated with trunk control after stroke: A prospective study

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Clinical Neuroscience

Background:

• Poor trunk control is a common and significant impairment following stroke.
• Impaired trunk control negatively affects overall functional recovery and independence.
• Predicting trunk control is crucial for targeted rehabilitation strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine if clinical and functional data at hospital discharge can predict trunk control at 90 days post-stroke.
• To identify early predictors of unsatisfactory trunk control after stroke.

Main Methods:

• Prospective study of 37 stroke participants.
• Evaluated stroke severity (NIHSS) and functional capacity (mRS) at discharge.
• Assessed trunk control (TIS) and other functional outcomes at 90 days.
• Used ROC curve analysis to identify predictive cut-off values.

Main Results:

• Higher NIHSS (≥6) and mRS (≥3) scores at discharge predicted unsatisfactory trunk control at 90 days.
• Unsatisfactory trunk control was associated with lower scores on Barthel Index, FIM, and TMT at 90 days.

Conclusions:

• Initial stroke severity and functional status are significant predictors of 90-day trunk control.
• Early identification of at-risk individuals allows for timely intervention.
• Clinical discharge data can guide rehabilitation planning for stroke patients.