Effects of a Task-Oriented Exercise Program on Balance in Patients with Hemiplegia Following Stroke

Abstract

Background:One of the most common disabilities after stroke is impaired balance, so improving balance is essential for performing daily activities through rehabilitation. A task-oriented exercise program is an effective approach to improving balance. Objectives:The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of a task-oriented exercise program on balance in patients with hemiplegia following stroke. Iranian patients with hemiplegia following stroke were randomly assigned to experimental (n = 10) and control groups (n = 10). The experimental group received a 4-week task-oriented exercise program, and the control group received 4-week conventional physiotherapy, respectively. The patients were evaluated before and after the exercise intervention. Clinical measures included the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) while laboratory measures included the plantar pressure distribution, the center of pressure path length (COP path length), and the center of pressure confidence ellipse area (COP area). Results:Significant improvement was observed in the BBS after completion of the exercise program in both the experimental and the control groups (50.5 ± 1.08 and 46.8 ± 3.96, P < 0.05, respectively). Significant improvement was showed in the COP path length and area after the task-oriented exercise program (171.14 ± 52.15 and 65.44 ± 69.79, P < 0.01, respectively). The COP area also improved after completion of conventional therapy (114.9 ± 88.99, P < 0.05), but the COP path length in the conventional therapy group and the plantar pressure distribution in both groups were not improved significantly after treatment (P > 0.05). The BBS, COP path length, and COP area improved significantly in the experimental group compared to the control group following intervention (P < 0.05). Conclusions:A task-oriented exercise program is associated with an improvement in balance in patients with hemiplegia following stroke.

Effects of visual scanning exercises in addition to task specific approach on balance and activities of daily livings in post stroke patients with eye movement disorders: a randomized controlled trial

“…The findings of present study are similar to the study conducted by Arabzadeh S and co-workers [40]. In both studies, there was no statistical significant difference was seen at baseline in the BBS scores in both intragroup and intergroup analysis.…”

Functional Training for Lower Extremities in Stroke Survivors: A Scoping Review

“…Out of the 36 studies included in this review, the majority (21 studies) focused on participants in the chronic stage of stroke [ 18 , 22 , 23 , 28 , 29 , 31 - 33 , 35 , 37 - 48 ]. There were six studies that focused on the late subacute phase [ 24 , 25 , 49 - 52 ] and eight studies that focused on the early subacute phase [ 16 , 17 , 30 , 34 , 53 - 56 ]. One study did not specify the stage of stroke [ 57 ].…”

“…The duration of functional training interventions varied across studies with three weeks in three studies [ 23 , 34 , 41 ], four weeks in 17 studies [ 16 , 17 , 22 , 24 , 28 - 32 , 39 , 40 , 42 , 45 - 47 , 53 , 56 ], six weeks in eight studies [ 18 , 35 , 43 , 44 , 49 , 54 , 55 , 57 ], eight weeks in two studies [ 37 , 52 ], 10 weeks in three studies [ 38 , 48 , 50 ] and 12 weeks in three studies [ 25 , 33 , 51 ].…”

“…The commonly used functional outcome measures were the Berg Balance Scale in 20 studies [ 16 - 18 , 24 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 34 , 37 , 38 , 40 - 42 , 44 , 46 , 48 , 49 , 51 , 53 , 57 ], Timed Up and Go test in 18 studies [ 18 , 23 - 25 , 31 , 37 , 39 , 41 , 42 , 44 , 46 - 49 , 51 , 55 - 57 ], Six-Minute Walk test in 16 studies [ 16 - 18 , 22 , 24 , 25 , 29 , 31 , 33 , 44 , 47 , 49 , 51 , 52 , 55 , 56 ], 10-Metre Walk test in 13 studies [ 17 , 22 , 29 , 31 , 33 , 39 , 41 , 42 , 46 , 49 , 51 , 52 , 55 ], Step test in six studies [ 29 , 31 , 41 , 47 , 48 , 56 ], kinematic analysis for gait and sit to stand in five studies [ 31 , 43 , 45 , ...…”

A Comparative Study to Check the Effectiveness of Task Oriented Activity on Walking Speed in Sub-Acute Stroke Patients

“…(WHO, 1989) 5 . Hemiparesis or hemiplegia is the most common symptoms secondary to stroke that could restrict joint movement and reduce the ability of muscle contraction especially on the contralateral side of the lesion that can cause deficiencies in movement, sensation, speech, cognition, perception, and balance [6][7][8] . Walking function is severely impaired following stroke, in more than half of the stroke survivors and these make walking regaining and enhancing walking competency an integral component of the treatment 9,10 .…”