Trunk training following stroke

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Physical Therapy

Background:

• Previous studies indicate post-stroke trunk training benefits trunk function.
• However, its impact on daily activities, quality of life, and other outcomes remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of post-stroke trunk training.
• Assessed outcomes include activities of daily living (ADL), trunk function, arm-hand function, standing balance, leg function, walking ability, and quality of life.
• Comparisons were made against dose-matched and non-dose-matched control groups.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review and meta-analysis of 68 randomized controlled trials involving 2585 stroke survivors.
• Included studies compared trunk training with non-dose-matched or dose-matched control interventions.
• Data were analyzed separately for non-dose-matched and dose-matched control groups.

Main Results:

• Trunk training showed significant benefits in ADL, trunk function, standing balance, walking ability, and quality of life, particularly in the non-dose-matched analysis.
• In dose-matched analyses, trunk training improved trunk function, standing balance, leg function, walking ability, and quality of life, but not ADL or arm-hand function.
• Different trunk training approaches (core-stability, selective-trunk, unstable-trunk) demonstrated significant effects on various outcomes, with time post-stroke also influencing results.

Conclusions:

• Trunk training is an effective rehabilitation strategy for improving ADL, trunk function, balance, mobility, and quality of life in stroke survivors.
• Core-stability, selective-trunk, and unstable-trunk training are common approaches.
• Evidence certainty varies from very low to moderate, underscoring the need for high-quality trials.