Impact of Tai Ji Yunshou with Visual Feedback on Balance and Mobility in Stroke Patients

BACKGROUND Stroke often impairs balance and mobility. This study aimed to compare outcomes at 1 month on balance, walking, and muscle strength from Tai Ji Yunshou exercise with visual feedback, static standing with visual feedback, and conventional balance training in 80 patients in the subacute phase of stroke. MATERIAL AND METHODS We randomly assigned 80 patients in the subacute phase of stroke to 3 groups: Group 1 (G1, n=28) received Tai Ji Yunshou with summative visual feedback, Group 2 (G2, n=25) received static standing with summative visual feedback, and Group 3 (G3, n=27) received conventional balance training. Outcome measures included the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Timed Up and Go Test (TUGT), 10-Meter Walking Time (10MWT), Barthel Index (BI), and lower-limb muscle strength. Assessments were conducted at baseline and after 4 weeks of intervention. RESULTS After 4 weeks, all groups improved after training. G1 showed significantly greater improvements in BBS (P=0.011) and 10MWT (P=0.001) compared to G3, and in BI compared to G2 (P=0.041) and G3 (P=0.004). G1 also demonstrated greater gains in hemiplegic-side muscle strength compared to other groups (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS Tai Ji Yunshou training combined with summative visual feedback was more effective than static balance combined with summative visual feedback or conventional balance training in improving balance, gait ability, activities of daily living, and paretic-side lower-limb strength in patients in the subacute phase of stroke.