Trunk Alignment Research Articles

Surgical Correction of Ischiopagus Tripus Conjoined Twins with Fused Pelvis: Enhancing Quality of Life through Orthopedic Intervention.

BACKGROUND The rarity of ischiopagus tripus conjoined twins complicates the surgical separation, owing to the lack of cases and high complexity. We aim to report our experience in performing orthopedic correction for ischiopagus tripus twins. CASE REPORT A pair of 3-year-old conjoined boys presented with a fused body at the pelvis region and only 1 umbilicus. There were 2 legs separated by shared genitalia and an anus at the midline, and 1 fused leg, which could be felt and moved by both of the patients. The twins also shared internal organs of the bladder, intestine, and rectum, as visualized through angiography computerized tomography scan. After several team discussions with the institutional review board, the hospital ethics committee, and both parents, it was agreed to perform disarticulation of the fused third limb, followed by correction of the trunk alignment by pelvic closed wedge osteotomy and internal fixation. We successfully reconstructed the pelvis using locking plates and additional 3.5-mm cortical screws and 1.2-mm stainless steel wire. CONCLUSIONS This report describes the presentation and surgical management of a case of ischiopagus tripus conjoined twins. It highlights the challenges involved in surgery and the importance of investigating these infants for other congenital abnormalities. Although surgical approaches for different sets of twins should be individually tailored, interventions aimed to provide optimal outcomes should consider ethical issues and parental/patient expectations. Even in situations in which the twins are inseparable, there is still room for surgical correction to be performed.

Dancers Show More Accurate Trunk-Pelvic Joint Angle Reproduction While Wearing a Jacket Augmented With Elastic Bands.

Purpose: The Backalast® compression jacket is intended to improve posture and proprioception of the trunk and shoulder girdle for dancers and dance students during dance training by way of elastic bands in the rear of the garment (which include bands enclosing the inferior thorax). This study was intended to investigate whether there is evidence to support those objectives. Materials and Methods: Fifteen dance students participated (4 male, mean age 19.9 ± 1.4 years old). The dependent variables of trunk-pelvis angle and proximity of trunk axis to global vertical for each participant were measured using optical motion capture before and after the completion of a series of trunk movements. The Helen Hayes model, which we used to represent the trunk, includes the shoulder girdles as part of the trunk. We compared the effect of the type of garment (Backalast® or control compression shirt) worn upon the 2 dependent variables, within-subject with paired t-tests. The order of whether Backalast® or control compression shirt was worn first was alternated between participants. Results: The pre/posttest difference in trunk proprioception as represented by the construct of ability to reproduce trunk-pelvis angle wearing the Backalast® was 0.8° ± 0.8°, but for the control shirt, the difference was 1.8° ± 1.4°, P = .03. The difference between garments in vertical trunk alignment, measured after the series of trunk movements, was not significant. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that the Backalast® can help enhance trunk proprioception when compared to the control compression shirt, although it did not change the angle at which the participants' held their trunks while standing erect (proximity to global vertical).

Effects of ErigoPro Training on the Trunk Alignment and Balance in Chronic Stroke Patients

Effects of ErigoPro Training on the Trunk Alignment and Balance in Chronic Stroke Patients

Comparison of trunk alignment and postural habits of high school adolescents and university students

Introduction: It is widely believed that the postural quality of adolescents is poor and this condition is blamed, at least in part, on a sedentary lifestyle and low self-awareness of body alignment and awareness of movement quality. The aim of this study was to evaluate the postural habits and trunk alignment of high school adolescents against university students with high physical activity and high awareness of the importance of postural quality for health.Material and methods: 59 high school students and 82 university students, male and female, participated in the study. Three-dimensional trunk positioning in habitual standing was investigated using the Zebris Pointer ultrasound device. Awareness of habitual posture during various activities of daily living was assessed using a validated questionnaire. Results were analysed using Statistica v13.Results: High school students were characterised by a greater depth of thoracic kyphosis than university students. Female high school students tended to have shallower lumbar lordosis and male high school students tended to have deeper lordosis. High school students showed worse lateral trunk inclination and greater pelvic to shoulder rotation. The most important observation regarding postural awareness was related to sitting position. Women from both groups were more likely than men to admit to sitting with a bent and rotated trunk and crossed legs.Conclusions: It appears that higher physical activity and / or greater knowledge of university students contributes to more correct trunk positioning compared to the physically inactive high school students. Postural habits, however, are similar in both groups. Gender significantly differentiates both posture and posture-related habits.

Effect of Unilateral Knee Extension Restriction on the Lumbar Region during Gait.

Unilateral knee extension restriction might change trunk alignment and increase mechanical load on the lumbar region during walking. We aimed to clarify lumbar region mechanical load during walking with restricted knee extension using a musculoskeletal model simulation. Seventeen healthy adult males were enrolled in this study. Participants walked 10 m at a comfortable velocity with and without restricted right knee extension of 15° and 30° using a knee brace. L4–5 joint moment, joint reaction force, and muscle forces around the lumbar region during walking were calculated for each condition. Peaks of kinetic data were compared among three gait conditions during 0%–30% and 50%–80% of the right gait cycle. Lumbar extension moment at early stance of the bilateral lower limbs was significantly increased in the 30° restricted condition (p ≤ 0.021). Muscle force of the multifidus showed peaks at stance phase of the contralateral side during walking, and the erector spinae showed force peaks at early stance of the bilateral lower limb. Muscle force of the multifidus and erector spinae increased with increasing degree of knee flexion (p ≤ 0.010), with a large effect size (η2 = 0.273–0.486). The joint force acting on L4–5 showed two peaks at early stance of the bilateral lower limbs during the walking cycle. The anterior and vertical joint force on L4–5 increased by 14.2%–36.5% and 10.0%–23.0% in walking with restricted knee extension, respectively (p ≤ 0.010), with a large effect size (η2 = 0.149–0.425). Restricted knee joint extension changed trunk alignment and increased the muscle force and the vertical and anterior joint force on the L4–5 joint during walking; this tendency became more obvious with increased restriction angle. Our results provide important information for therapists engaged in the rehabilitation of patients with knee contracture.

Trunk Alignment in Physically Active Young Males with Low Back Pain.

Background: Systematic physical activity has become an essential part of the guidelines for the prevention and treatment of low back pain (LBP). The aim of this study was to assess differences in trunk alignment parameters with regard to the level of physical activity in groups of individuals with and without LBP. Methods: 43 participants with LBP and 37 healthy persons were recruited. Participants were divided into two subgroups: (1) students with a moderate level of physical activity (MPA); (2) students with a high level of physical activity (HPA). An original questionnaire was used to assess the prevalence of LBP. The spinal posture was measured using the Formetric 4D rasterstereographic system. Results: There were no significant differences between groups for any of the parameters assessed: trunk imbalance, trunk inclination, trunk torsion, pelvic tilt, pelvic inclination, pelvic torsion, kyphotic angle and lordotic angle. Conclusions: There are no differences in trunk alignment parameters in the sagittal, frontal and transversal planes between physically active males with and without LBP. Therefore, it can be assumed that physical activity may reduce the risk of the deterioration of trunk alignment in males with LBP younger than 25 years.

Reliability of automated topographic measurements for spine deformity

PurposeThis study introduces a novel surface-topographic scanning system capable of automatically generating a suite of objective measurements to characterize torso shape. Research Question: what is the reliability of the proposed system for measurement of trunk alignment parameters in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) and controls?MethodsForty-six adolescents (26 with AIS and 20 controls) were recruited for a prospective reliability study. A series of angular, volumetric, and area measures were computed from topographic scans in each of three clinically relevant poses using a fully automated processing pipeline. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC(2,1)) were computed within (intra-) and between (inter-) raters. Measurements were also performed on a torso phantom.ResultsTopographic measurements computed on a phantom were highly accurate (mean RMS error 1.7%) compared with CT. For human subjects, intra- and inter-rater reliability were both high (average ICC > 0.90) with intrinsic (pose-independent) measurements having near-perfect reliability (average ICC > 0.98).ConclusionThe proposed system is a suitable tool for topographic analysis of AIS; topographic measurements offer an objective description of torso shape that may complement other imaging modalities. Further research is needed to compare topographic findings with gold standard imaging of spinal alignment, e.g., standing radiography. Conclusion: clinical parameters can be reliably measured in a fully automated system, paving the way for objective analysis of symmetry, body shape pre/post-surgery, and tracking of pathology without ionizing radiation.

Force Platform-Based Intervention Program for Individuals Suffering with Neurodegenerative Diseases like Parkinson.

The term “neurodegenerative disease” refers to a set of illnesses that primarily affect brain's neurons. Substantia nigra (a midbrain dopaminergic nucleus) with lack of hormone called dopamine causes Parkinson's disease (PD), a neurological disorder. PD leads to tremor, stiffness, impaired posture and balance, and loss of automatic movements. Patient with Parkinson's often develops a parkinsonian gait that includes a tendency to lean forward, small quick steps as if hurrying forward, and reduced swinging of the arms. They also may have trouble initiating or continuing movement. Gait analysis is often used to diagnose neurodegenerative illnesses and determine their stage. In this study, we attempt to investigate postural balance, and of gait signals for Parkinson's patients, also, we incorporate interim rehabilitation technique. We included 25 PD patients who had 2.5 to 3 IV score of Hoehn and Yahr scale. A ten-minute walk test has been performed to observe primary and secondary results of dual task interference on gait velocities, and gait time motion vector for right and left legs was observed. Two experimental ground conditions include three conditions of trunk alignment, that is, erect on a regular basis (RE), trunk dorsiflexion 30° (TF1), and trunk dorsiflexion 50° (TF2) were analysed. We identified the walking speed of PD patients was decreased, and trunk dorsiflexion variables influence the gait pattern of Parkinson's disease patients, where higher 95% CI for TF1 condition was reported. The regular erect trunk showed swing time reduction (0.7%) in PD, so the higher unified PD rating scale (UPDRS) values have significant difference in swing phase time in Parkinson's patients. The average Hoehn and Yahr scale (H&Y scale) was 4.3 ± 2.5 reported in the study participants. In a 10-week follow-up evaluation, the stance duration was shown to be substantial, as was the slower speed gait in the baseline condition. Excessive flexion was discovered in our investigation at the lower limb joints, particularly the knee and ankle. Patients with Parkinson's disease had similar maximum dorsiflexion and minimum plantarflexion values in stance. The trunk fraction conditions were found significant in patients after rehabilitation training. The best response to rehabilitation treatment was seen when the trunk was rotated. When steps and posture distribution analysis performed, we found that the trunk flexure 1 (p < 0.05), and trunk flexure 2 (p < 0.01) were shown significant values. When GRF threshold characteristics are employed, mean accuracy improves by 52%. Regardless of gait posture, the step regular trunk flexure had significantly higher posture than the corresponding level steps, with a considerable rise in the 50 in trunk dorsiflexion 2 gait relative to the step “L.” This study shows that there was some significant improvement observed in the gait parameters among patients with PD's which shows positive impact of the intervention. Furthermore, rehabilitation programmes can aid and improve poor gait features in patients with Parkinson's disease, especially those who are in the early stages of the condition. This gait and balance research provides a rationale for intervention treatments, and their use in clinical practise enhances evidence of therapeutic efficacy. However, prolonged follow-up is needed to determine whether the advantages will remain all across disease's course, and future studies may recommend a specific rehabilitation technique based on gait analysis results.

Paradoxical spinopelvic motion: does global balance influence spinopelvic motion in total hip arthroplasty?

BackgroundRecent research has proposed a classification of spinopelvic stiffness according to pelvic spatial orientation for risk stratification in patients who undergo total hip arthroplasty (THA). However, the influence of global alignment was not investigated, and this study evaluated the effect of global balance (sagittal vertical axis [SVA]) on spinopelvic motion.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective review of consecutive primary THA patients. We measured SVA, spinopelvic parameters (pelvic tilt [PT], pelvic incidence, and sacral slope), thoracic kyphosis (TK), lumbar lordosis (LL), proximal femur angle (PFA), and cup version using functional radiographs of patients in the standing and upright sitting positions. Linear regression was performed to identify parameters related to global trunk alignment change (∆SVA). Spinopelvic stiffness was defined as PT position change < 10°, and a subset of patients with PT change < 0° was categorized into a paradoxical spinopelvic motion group.ResultsOne hundred twenty-four patients were analyzed (mean age: 65 years, 61% female). In univariate regression analysis, ∆TK, ∆LL, and ∆PFA were correlated to ∆SVA. In multivariate regression analysis, ΔLL (p < 0.001) and ΔPFA (p < 0.001) were found to be correlated to ΔSVA (ΔSVA = − 11.97 + 0.05ΔTK – 0.23ΔLL – 0.17ΔPFA; adjusted R2 = 0.558). Spinopelvic stiffness was observed in 40 patients (32%), including five (4%) with paradoxical motion (∆PT = − 3° ± 1°, p < 0.001) with characteristics of balanced standing global trunk alignment (standing SVA = − 1.0 ± 5.1 cm), similar stiffness of the lumbosacral spine (∆LL = − 7° ± 5°), higher hip motion (∆PFA = − 78° ± 6°, p = 0.017), and higher anterior trunk shift (∆SVA = 6.2 ± 2.0 cm, p = 0.003) from standing to sitting as compared to the stiffness group. Two of these five patients experienced dislocation events after THA.ConclusionsThe lumbosacral and hip motions were the major contributors to global alignment postural change. Paradoxical motion is a rare but dangerous clinical condition in THA that might be related to a disproportionally large trunk shift in the stiff lumbosacral spine causing excessive hip motion. In paradoxical motion, diminishing functional acetabular clearance during position change might pose the prosthesis at higher risk of impingement and instability than spinopelvic stiffness.

Mat pilates method improve postural alignment women undergoing hormone therapy adjunct to breast cancer treatment. Clinical trial

The purpose of the study is to analyze the effects of a mat Pilates intervention on the postural alignment and balance of breast cancer women receiving hormone therapy. A two-arm randomized clinical trial included 34 breast cancer survivors divided randomly between a mat Pilates group (n = 18), that performed 16 weeks of mat Pilates exercises, and a control group (n = 16), who were invited to maintain their daily routine activities and received three educational sessions. Data collection occurred at baseline and at post-intervention time. The postural alignment was assessed using the Postural Assessment Software (SAPO) and the balance was assessed by the MINIBESTest. When the two-way ANOVA was performed on postural alignment results, a significant statistical difference was found in the angle between acromions and the anterior-superior iliac spines of the mat Pilates group (p = 0.036). When compared to the post-intervention period, the mat Pilates method had an improved horizontal alignment of the anterior-superior iliac spines (p = 0.039) and vertical alignment of the acromion head on the right side (p = 0,016). Also, the participants of the Pilates group showed a significant statistical difference in the balance (p = 0.034). The control group had an improved vertical trunk alignment on the left side (p = 0,048). The control group and the mat Pilates method group improved in some aspects, however the mat Pilates method was effective in improving the postural alignment and the balance of breast cancer survivors receiving hormone therapy and may be recommended in oncological rehabilitation as a type of complementary therapy.

Trunk Alignment of Elite Male Swimmers with a History of Low Back Pain during a Streamlined Position

Trunk Alignment of Elite Male Swimmers with a History of Low Back Pain during a Streamlined Position

Comparison of the effects of chair height and anterior seat inclination on sit-to-stand ability in children with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy

The present study aimed to compare the effects of chair height and anterior seat inclination on sit-to-stand (STS) performance in children with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy (SDCP). Twelve children with SDCP were tested with three conditions of STS task: low chair with horizontal seat (control), low chair with anterior seat inclination (AiC), and high chair with horizontal seat (HiC) conditions. A 3D motion analysis system and two force plates were used to collect and analyze the movement time, mechanical work, kinematics, and kinetics. The results showed that in the AiC and HiC conditions, movement time and mechanical work during STS were significantly reduced when compared with the control condition. In addition, in the AiC condition, trunk alignment at the beginning of the STS task improved and the range of pelvis movement reduced, whereas in the HiC condition, the range of movement of hip, knee, and ankle joint and maximum hip and knee extension moment were reduced in children with SDCP when compared with the control condition. These results suggest that chair height and anterior seat inclination may have a positive effect on STS ability in children with SDCP.Trial register No. TCTR20170619003.

Association between motor development of typical children and head and trunk alignment

Introduction: Among the typical motor development, it is considered the neck control as being of great importance. Although there is no consensus of the best positioning for stimulation of neck control, it is clear in the literature the positive association between the prone position and the typical motor development according to the age of infants. Objective: To investigate the association between the kinematic variables related to neck control and bracing with age and motor performance in the prone position of typical children. Methods: 30 children participated in the study. Motor development was assessed by Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS), and the alignment of the head, trunk and upper limb was analyzed through kinematic analysis in the prone position. Results: with the association of the variables: age, AIMS in the prone position and the kinematic variables (inclination of the head, trunk extension, shoulder angle and elbow angle), was observed that the increase in age and the best performance in the prone position corresponding to the inclination of the head. The trunk and elbow extension also increases. Conclusion: there was a positive association between the variables age and motor performance in the prone position of typical children, with kinematics variables the inclination of the head, the trunk and the elbow extension.

Changes in Knee and Trunk Alignment in People With Hip Pain and Healthy Controls When Using a Decline Board During Single-Leg Squat.

Hip pain is associated with reduced hip muscle strength, range of movement (ROM), and decreased postural stability. Single-leg squat is a reliable and valid method to measure dynamic balance. To evaluate the influence of physical characteristics and use of a decline board on squat performance in a hip pain population. Cross-sectional study setting. Clinical Patients: In total, 33 individuals scheduled for arthroscopic hip surgery were matched with 33 healthy controls. Hip and ankle ROM, hip strength, and trunk endurance were assessed, along with knee and trunk kinematics during squat on flat and 25° decline surfaces. Between-group and surface differences in alignment, between-group strength and ROM, and associations between alignment and physical characteristics were assessed and determined using mixed model analysis of variance and Pearson R. The hip pain group had significantly less strength and ROM for all directions except abduction strength and ankle dorsiflexion (P > .02). No differences existed between the 2 groups for trunk (P < .70) or knee displacement (P < .46) during squat on either surface. When the 2 groups were combined (n = 66), decline squat significantly reduced knee medial displacement in both limbs by approximately 1 cm (P < .01). Decline squat reduced trunk lateral movement on 1 side only (P = .03). Reduced knee displacement during decline squat showed fair association with less hip-extension strength (r = -.29), hip-flexion strength (r = -.25), and less dorsiflexion (r = -.24). Strength and range were not associated with trunk displacement. Decline squat reduced medial knee and lateral trunk displacement regardless of hip pain. Reductions may be greater in those with lesser hip muscle strength and dorsiflexion. Use of a decline board during squat for improving knee and trunk alignment should be considered as a goal of exercise intervention.

Acute muscle stretching and the ability to maintain posture in females with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.

Physiotherapy scoliosis specific exercises include exercises to attain and maintain proper posture, as well as flexibility movements such as stretching. To examine the effect of prior muscle stretching on the performance of posture exercise in females with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). Eighteen females with AIS were randomly assigned to perform a posture maintenance task for three minutes preceded by either stretching protocol (group A) or no-stretching (group B). A second session was carried out after three days, where the same procedure was repeated in a reverse order between groups. During each session, three outcomes were tested: the ability to complete the task, the ability to maintain postural body alignment, and the perceived effort. All participants completed the task in both sessions. Subjects' ability to preserve the required lower trunk alignment decreased following stretching compared to no-stretching. Lower-trunk angle changed toward flexion by 10∘ and 4.3∘ respectively, p= 0.032. There was no difference in perceived effort. Prior muscle stretching has a negative effect on the ability to preserve body positional alignment during posture exercise. The present findings should be considered by practitioners when designing protocols for scoliosis-specific exercises. Stretching immediately prior to posture maintenance exercises should be avoided.

The Use of a Rectification Vest Improves Trunk Stabili-ty and Alignment During Hippotherapy in a Child with Dandy-Walker Syndrome: A Case-Study

The Use of a Rectification Vest Improves Trunk Stabili-ty and Alignment During Hippotherapy in a Child with Dandy-Walker Syndrome: A Case-Study

The influence of postural deformities on neck function and pain in patients with Parkinson's disease.

Trunk alignment is thought to contribute to neck function. However, this common assumption is not clear in patients with Parkinson's disease (PwPD) suffering from different postural deformities such as: Pisa syndrome (PS), Camptocormia & Antecollis (C&A). to investigate the effect of different postural deformities including PS and C&A on neck function and pain in patient (PwPD). Forty-five participants belonging to three groups: 15 PD patients without postural disorders (PD), 15 with PS, and 15 with C&A. The function, disability and pain were assessed by Neck Disability Index (NDI), and Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) which used to assess the pain severity (BPI-PS) and Pain Interference (BPI-PI). All groups completed clinical assessments by the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS), Modified Hoenh & Yahr (mH&Y) staging and the Levodopa Equivalent Daily Dose (LEDD). PD group compared with PS and C&A groups showed differences in NDI, BPI-PS, BPI-PI, LEDD and mH&Y staging (P<0.001), but no differences found in PD duration, UPDRS-II and III in the same groups. Moreover, no differences were observed between PS and C&A groups in the mentioned scales. These results demonstrated that PS and C&A are associated with severe impairment of neck functions, and pain in PwPD.

Differences in body positional bilateral symmetry between stance and supine positions, and the impact of attention and awareness on postural symmetry

Background and purposePostural asymmetries may cause structural pathological conditions and impaired movement pattern. The influence of body position and awareness towards symmetry has not yet been elucidated. The aim of this study was twofold: First, to compare the body positional bilateral symmetry between standing and supine positions, and second, to examine whether the awareness to symmetry can modify posture perception and body positional bilateral symmetry. MethodsWe analyzed the degree of anterior postural alignment symmetry of 34 healthy subjects by photogrammetric method (three photographs in a standing position and three in a supine position). Each photo captured different state of awareness: Subjective Comfortable Posture (SCP), Subjective Perceived Symmetrical Posture (SPSP), and Guided Posture Protocol (GPP). ResultsThe standing position increased the symmetrical alignment of the neck (p < 0.013) and the upper limbs (p < 0.011). However, the supine position demonstrated increased symmetrical alignment of the upper trunk (p < 0.019) and the feet (p < 0.002). In the standing position, GPP showed greater symmetry of the neck (p < 0.022), the shoulders (p < 0.014), the thorax midline (p < 0.009), the upper trunk (p < 0.000) and the upper limbs (p < 0.029). No significant changes were observed in the supine position between the three states of awareness. ConclusionsStudy results indicate that the supine position shows greater degree of upper trunk's symmetrical alignment than the standing position. It also indicates that while standing, focusing attention into symmetry improves body positional bilateral symmetry. These results might have clinical implications when working with patients who suffer from asymmetric posture.

Effects of a muscular stretching and strengthening school-based exercise program on posture, trunk mobility, and musculoskeletal pain among elementary schoolchildren - a randomized controlled trial

Abstract Introduction: The exercise benefits for the most prevalent postural changes require proper investigation, with large samples, control group, and concealed allocation. Objective: To assess the effects of a muscular stretching and strengthening school-based exercise program on posture, trunk mobility, and musculoskeletal pain among elementary schoolchildren. Method: Three hundred students from three schools in Brazil were evaluated. Stretching and strengthening exercises, twice a week, for eight weeks in group sessions were provided by one physiotherapist. The control group did not undergo any intervention. Head, back and shoulder posture were qualitatively evaluated. Head and trunk alignment were evaluated using the Posture Assessment Software. Cervical, thoracic, low back and upper limb pain were assessed for the last seven days. The trunk mobility was recorded through the flexibility of the posterior chain. Posture, pain and trunk mobility were recorded at baseline and after the intervention. Groups were compared using χ2 test, two-way MANOVA, and two-way ANOVA, with α set at 5%. Results: Shoulder posture showed significant results (P = 0.04), the intervention group showed the lower worsening rate. In the quantitative evaluation, a statistically significant difference was observed between assessments (P &lt; 0.01 for head and trunk; ES = 0.53) but not between groups. The intervention group had a higher percentage of improvement in the overall musculoskeletal pain (P = 0.04; ES = 0.54). Mobility decreased an average of 1.8° in the control group and increased 5.0° in the intervention group, without statistical significance. Conclusion: The program was effective in reducing pain level and shoulder misalignment at the intervention group.

Trunk alignment in different standing positions in healthy subjects and stroke patients -a comparative study with a simple method for the everyday practice.: Trunk alignment in healthy and stroke subjects

ABSTRACTObjectives: Weight-bearing (WB) on the lower extremities is an important outcome parameter in the rehabilitation of poststroke hemiparesis. However, the patients often regain this ability by compensatory movement patterns.Methods: Our goal was to characterize with a simple method the trunk alignment of healthy subjects and stroke patients (n = 17 for both groups) during standing and following lateral weight shift (WS). To describe trunk alignment, five markers were placed on the subjects’ back, and the angles of the trunk at both sides were defined by the lines drawn from the posterior angle of the acromion and the iliac crest on the same body side to the seventh thoracic spinal process. Weight distributions on the lower extremities during standing and lateral WS were determined with a force platform.Results: The patients had significantly limited WB capacity on their paretic limb, which was accompanied with significant asymmetry in the trunk alignment during standing and following WS to the paretic side.Discussion: Our results show that this patient population tends to use abnormal compensatory movement patterns to optimize weight shifting, and changes of trunk alignment play a key role in this. This should be taken into consideration during rehabilitation.