Effect of Constrained Weight Shift With and Without Trunk Stabilization Training on Balance in Chronic Stroke...

Background Stroke survivors often exhibit impaired postural control and balance due to trunk weakness and asymmetrical weight-bearing, increasing the risk of falls and limiting functional independence. Targeted rehabilitation strategies are essential to improve static and dynamic balance in chronic stroke patients. Purpose This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of constrained weight shift (CWS) training with trunk stabilization versus CWS training alone on static and dynamic balance in chronic stroke patients. Methods Thirty chronic stroke patients were randomly assigned to Group A (CWS + trunk stabilization) or Group B (CWS only). Both groups underwent 45-60-minute sessions, five days per week for six weeks, totaling 26 supervised sessions. Training involved weight-shifting exercises, functional tasks, and core strengthening exercises for the experimental group. Balance outcomes were assessed using the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and Trunk Impairment Scale (TIS) pre- and post-intervention. Results Both groups demonstrated improvements in static and dynamic balance; however, Group A showed significantly greater gains in BBS and TIS scores (p < 0.05). Conclusion Adding trunk stabilization to CWS training enhances static and dynamic balance recovery in chronic stroke patients.