COMPARATIVE STUDY OF IMMEDIATE AND SHORT TERM EFFECT OF 4 DAYS OF SCAPULAR STABILIZING EXERCISES AND SCAPULAR PROPRIOCEPTIVE NEUROMUSCULAR FACILITATION ON SCAPULAR ALIGNMENT AND FUNCTIONAL TASK IN PATIENTS WITH STROKEâ€-An Experimental Study

Stroke is the common neurologicaldisorder causing impairment of upper limb functions. Upper limb inacapacity isthe big issue and it contributes greatly to functional disability after Stroke.Patients have poor voluntary control and muscle weakness of arm and bodymalalignment which increases the incidence of dependence in ADL activity immediatelyafter Stroke.

Scapula Stabilizing Exercises andScapula PNF have both proved to be effective in improving the motor function ofupper limb and ADL activity. But in the busy clinical set up, we need to chooseone technique which is more efficient. So the study was done to investigatecomparison between both the techniques and effect of these techniques onScapular Algnment and Functional task.

An Experimental Study was conductedin tertiary care hospital 18 patients diagnosed with Stroke were recruited asper the inclusion and exclusion criteria.After obtaining theethical approval from Instituitonal Ethical Committee, enrollment of theparticipants began. Written informed consent was explained and undersigned bythe patients which were included in the study.The patients were divided intotwo group with the help of allocation method .Scapula Stabilizing Exercises andScapula PNF were given to Group A and Group B respectively. Scapula Alignmentwith the help of Palpation meter (PALM) and Functional task in terms of Liftingand lowering the cup was taken at baseline and for four consecutive days.

The dataobtained was then analyzed statistically. The results showed significantimprovement in both the techniques i.e. there is decrease in the Total Heightdiscrepancy and time taken for lifting and lowering the cup. ScapulaProprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation Exercises was found to be moreeffective than Scapula Stabilizing Exercises.