Effect of three-dimensional spine stabilization exercise on trunk muscle strength and gait ability in chronic stroke patients: A randomized controlled trial.

Abstract

Three-dimensional spine stabilization exercise can strengthen the trunk muscles with minimal spine movement. To investigate the effects of the newly developed Spine Balance three-dimensional (3D) system on trunk strength and gait abilities of chronic stroke patients. Twenty-four chronic stroke patients were randomly assigned to an experimental (n = 12) or control group (n = 12). The experimental and control groups performed spine stabilization exercise by using the newly developed Spine Balance 3D system and the well-known Bridge exercise thrice a week for 30 min per day for 7 weeks. Timed up and go (TUG) test, 10-m walking test (10-m WT), trunk muscle strength, and gait ability were evaluated before and after 7 weeks of intervention. The 10-m WT, TUG, walking speed, non-affected side step length, and distance in the experimental group, wherein trunk muscle strength was checked by using the Spine Balance 3D system evaluation program, showed more significant improvement than those in the control group (p < 0.05). We suggest that the newly developed Spine Balance 3D system can be a more useful therapeutic tool for rehabilitation of trunk muscle strength and gait abilities than bridge exercise-based spine stabilization exercise in chronic stroke patients.