The trunk exercises performed on the physio ball are more effective than those performed on the plinth in improving both trunk control and functional balance in acute stroke patients, suggesting a task-specific effect and also a carry-over effect.

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Purpose: Although proximal stability of the trunk is a prerequisite for balance and gait, to determine the role of trunk rehabilitation on trunk control, balance and gait in patients with chronic stroke is yet unknown. Method: Fifteen sub-jects (post-stroke duration (3.53 ± 2.98) years) who had the ability to walk 10 meters independently with or without a walking aid; scoring ≤ 21 on Trunk Impairment Scale (TIS), participated in a selective trunk muscle exercise regime, consisting of 45 minutes training per day, four days a week, and for four weeks duration in an outpatient stroke reha-bilitation centre. Results: The overall effect size index for trunk rehabilitation was 1.07. This study showed large effect size index for Trunk Impairment Scale (1.75), Berg Balance Scale (1.65) than for gait variables (0.65). After trunk rehabilitation, there was a significant improvement for gait speed (p= 0.015), cadence (p= 0.001) and gait symmetry (p=0.019) in patients with chronic stroke. In addition, all the spatial gait parameters had a significant change post-intervention. There was no significant change in temporal gait parameters with the exception of affected single limb support time. The level of significance was set at p < 0.05. Conclusion: The exercises consisted of selective trunk movement of the upper and the lower part of trunk had shown larger effect size index for trunk control and balance than for gait in patients with chronic stroke. Future randomized controlled studies incorporating large sample size would provide insight into the effectiveness and clinical relevance of this intervention

Background:Psychiatric diseases like anxiety, depression, schizophrenia and bipolar disorders can affect the mental and physical statuses of an individual.Aim:The study was to investigate the different oromucosal diseases (OMD) in psychiatric patients and to evaluate the correlation between these OMD to severity of anxiety and depression.Materials and Methods:A cross-sectional study was carried out during a six-month period. Patients reporting to psychiatry department with anxiety, depression, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder as diagnosed by an experienced psychiatrist, were subjected to complete oral examination by a skilled oral diagnostician to check for OMD like oral lichen planus (OLP), aphthous stomatitis (AS) and burning mouth syndrome (BMS). During the above mentioned time interval, 1320 patients with any of the above mentioned psychiatric diseases were included in this study. Of these, 278 had anxiety, 398 had depression, 295 had schizophrenia and 349 had bipolar disorder. Equal number of individuals reported to the Oral Medicine and Radiology department for routine oral screening with no mucosal diseases were included as control group.Results:In this study, statistically significant increase in the OMD of the psychiatric patients was recorded when compared with the control group. The OMD were significantly higher in patients with anxiety (20.86%) followed by patients with depression (9.04%), schizophrenia (7.7%), bipolar disorder (7.4%) and control group (5.17%), respectively. Most prevalent OMD in patients with anxiety was AS (12%) followed by OLP (5.7%), and BMS (2.87%) respectively. Patients with moderate to severe anxiety and depression showed significantly higher prevalence of these OMD compared to the ones with mild anxiety and depression. The AS and OLP were significantly more in the younger age group (18-49 year) and BMS was higher in 50-77 year age group in both the study and control groups.Conclusion:A positive association was established between psychological alterations and OMD. Emotional alterations may act as a precipitating factor that could influence the initiation and development of different OMD. Hence, better harmonization is essential between dentist and psychiatrists for comprehensive management of psychosomatic disorders of the oral mucosa.

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Background: Following stroke static as well as dynamic components of postural control were affected. Ability to maintain postural alignment is also a vital component of the postural control system. Pelvic asymmetry is commonly observed in stroke subjects which can influence trunk control. However, there is a paucity of literature that determines the relationship between pelvic alignment and trunk control in subjects with stroke. Aim: To analyze the relationship between pelvic alignments using PALM and trunk control as measured by the Trunk Impairment Scale (TIS). Setting: Inpatient rehabilitation unit, Tertiary Care Hospitals, Mangalore. Design: A cross-sectional study. Subjects: 38 supra-tentorial stroke subjects with more than 3 weeks duration and who can be able to sit independently were recruited. Methods: The medio-lateral pelvic alignment of the stroke subjects was measured in sitting using the PALM™. The deviation in the pelvic tilt on the paretic side in comparison to the non-paretic side was measured in degrees. Following which the trunk control was evaluated using the Trunk Impairment Scale. Results: The correlation between the pelvic tilt and the trunk control in the stroke subjects showed a negative correlation which indicates that a change in the pelvic alignment which affects the trunk control. Pelvic tilt values negatively correlated with all the sub-items of trunk impairment scores (p < 0.00). The pelvic tilt and the items of TIS scores. Brunnstrom's stage of lower extremity Motor Recovery demonstrated a significant association (p < 0.05), except for the coordination sub score of the TIS. Conclusion: Pelvic alignment influences the trunk control and is also available to be associated significantly with the acute phase of stroke (3 weeks to 3 months). Brunnstrom's Stage of lower extremity motor recovery is also associated significantly with the static and dynamic sub scores of the TIS, hence trunk control may influence extremity motor recovery.

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The initial foot placements during sit to stand transition influenced the time taken to complete the test which was significantly higher in asymmetric 1 strategy, Incorporation of the initial foot placement mainly asymmetric 1 strategy into conventional TUG test would help in identifying accurately the subject's functional mobility and postural stability.