Effects of rehabilitation training of core muscle stability on stroke patients with hemiplegia.

Xiaofeng Chen,Yongkai Lv,Zhuohui Gan,Wuchao Tian

doi:10.12669/pjms.36.3.1466

Abstract

Objective:To evaluate the effects of rehabilitation training of core muscle stability on stroke patients with hemiplegia.Methods:A total of 180 stroke patients who were hospitalized from December 2017 to December 2018 were enrolled. They were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group (n=90) that both received conventional hemiplegia rehabilitation therapy. On this basis, the observation group was subjected to training for core muscle stability, five times a week for a total of eight weeks. The balance functions before and after training were assessed using the Berg Balance Scale (BBS). The functions of hemiplegic lower limbs were evaluated by Brunnstrom staging and the Fugl-Meyer motor assessment (FMA) scale. The walking speed was estimated using the 10 m walking test. Musculoskeletal ultrasonography was performed to measure the thicknesses of three abdominal muscles of the paralytic side, i.e. transverse abdominis, internal oblique and external oblique muscles.Results:After treatment, the BBS scores of the two groups were significantly higher than those before treatment, with significant differences (P<0.05). The BBS score of the observation group was significantly higher than that of the control group (P<0.05). After treatment, the Brunnstrom stage and FMA scale score, and standing and stepping scores were significantly higher than those before treatment (P<0.05). The Brunnstrom stage, FMA scale score, stepping score and walking speed of the observation group significantly exceeded those of the control group (P<0.05). After treatment, the thicknesses all increased compared with those before treatment, but the thicknesses of internal oblique and external oblique muscles were not significantly different (P>0.05). The thickness of transverse abdominis muscle of the observation group significantly surpassed that before treatment (P<0.05), whereas the thicknesses of the control group were similar (P>0.05). The thickness of transverse abdominis muscle of the observation group was significantly higher than that of the control group (P<0.05).Conclusion:Rehabilitation training of core muscle stability can effectively improve the balance function and walking speed of stroke patients, probably by increasing the thickness of transverse abdominis muscle.

Highlights

Stroke survivors often have multiple dysfunctions which seriously affect their daily life, work and social communications
Thereby motivated, we evaluated the effects of rehabilitation training of core muscle stability on the balance function, ambulation ability and abdominal muscle thickness of stroke patients with hemiplegia, aiming to provide valuable clinical evidence for their treatment
Treatment Methods: The observation group was given routine rehabilitation training combined with core muscle training, and the control group was given conventional rehabilitation training combined with trunk control training

Summary

Introduction

Stroke survivors often have multiple dysfunctions which seriously affect their daily life, work and social communications. The decline in balance function is one of the common dysfunctions.[1] Training the stability of core. Pak J Med Sci March - April 2020 Vol 36 No 3 www.pjms.org.pk 461 muscles can improve the balance function of stroke patients, which is maintained by various factors.[2,3] The increase of core muscle strength is one of the most important factors, which, cannot be measured due to subjectivity, interference factors and low credibility of the results.[4] For a specific muscle, the strength is directly proportional to its cross-sectional area. Musculoskeletal ultrasonography has been used to measure the thickness of muscle, which is objective, non-invasive and low-cost.[5] Until now, the trunk muscles of stroke patients have seldom been tested by ultrasonography. Previous studies have verified that core muscle training can improve the balance ability of stroke patients, but the part of human body responsible for this improvement remains largely unknown.[6,7] Thereby motivated, we evaluated the effects of rehabilitation training of core muscle stability on the balance function, ambulation ability and abdominal muscle thickness of stroke patients with hemiplegia, aiming to provide valuable clinical evidence for their treatment

Methods

Results

Conclusion