Effects of scapular exercises on trunk control ın patients with acute stroke: a double-blind randomized controlled...

The ability to perform routine tasks during reaching and activities of daily living (ADLs) is impaired as a result of deterioration in the postural adjustments after stroke. Trunk stability is needed to maintain balance, correct scapular position and posture while moving the upper extremity. The objective was to examine the effect of scapular exercises on the scapular stability, trunk control and ADLs.

Patients (50-85 years) with acute hemiparetic stroke were participated in this double blind randomized controlled study. The patients in both group were treated with the exercise program according to the Bobath concept and isometric scapular exercises were applied to the study group in addition to these exercises. The participants in both groups were taken into the physiotherapy program for 5 days and each program were taken 30 min. Patient assessment included Lateral scapular slide test (LSST), Trunk Impairment Scale (TIS), Trunk Control Test (TCT), Modified Barthel Index (MBI) and Reaching Performance Test (RPT).

Significant increases were observed distance in protraction, between protraction - retraction at 90° of shoulder abduction and flexion and retraction in 90° of shoulder abduction within both groups. Only the study group produced improvement in protraction of 90° of shoulder flexion (p < 0.05). While both groups achieved a significant improvement in TIS, MBI, RPT scores, TCT scores increased significantly only in study group (p < 0.05).

The adding isometric scapular exercises to the rehabilitation program significantly increased the effectivity of neurorehabilitation on increasing trunk control, independence during ADLs, reaching performance and reducing trunk impairment.