Efficacy of a Four-Week Diagonal Pattern Exercise Program on Trunk and Lower Limb Function in Patients With...

Objective The intended effect of this investigation is to quantify the efficacy of a four-week program of diagonal pattern exercises in managing trunk impairments and improving gait difficulties in hemiplegic stroke subjects. The study aims to measure changes in trunk stability and gait parameters post-intervention, providing insights into the potential therapeutic benefits of these exercises for stroke rehabilitation. Methodology This experimentation approach encompassing before and the follow-up test evaluations was implemented in this investigation. It was conducted at Madha College of Physiotherapy, Chennai, using convenience sampling to recruit 20 stroke subjects meeting specific inclusion criteria. Participants underwent pre-test evaluations for trunk control and gait. They were then divided equally into two groups for a four-week intervention comprising diagonal pattern exercises or single-plane training. Treatment sessions were administered five days per week for 45 minutes each. Posttest evaluations assessed changes in trunk control using the Trunk Impairment Scale (TIS) and gait parameters via the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test. Results Pretest analysis indicated no substantial baseline variations among the experimental and control groups, affirming their suitability for comparison. Posttest analysis of intervention at a 5% significance level revealed that the experimental group demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in trunk control, as measured by the TIS and TUG test, compared to the control group. The paired t-test results showed significant differences in pre- and posttest values within each group, while the unpaired t-test confirmed the superiority of the experimental group's outcomes, with a P-value < 0.05. This improvement is likely due to the effectiveness of the diagonal pattern exercise in enhancing trunk muscle activity and coordination. Conclusions This study concludes that diagonal pattern training is more beneficial for improving trunk musculature control and locomotory ability in chronic cerebrovascular accident subjects. The exercise program's simplicity, minimal risks, and ease of home application after initial therapist supervision make it a promising therapeutic approach.