MedPath

Turning Dysfunction After Stroke: Assessment and Intervention

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Walking, Difficulty
Balancing Interference
Stroke
Interventions
Other: Trunk exercise
Registration Number
NCT04668573
Lead Sponsor
Taipei Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation
Brief Summary

The study aims to investigate the 1) differences between stroke patients and healthy controls in time, steps, angular velocity, stepping patterns, electromyographic responses during turning, and the association of turning to trunk control and motor function after stroke; 2) the effectiveness of trunk training on turning performance, trunk control and motor function in stroke patients.

Detailed Description

This study has two parts. The first part is a cross-sectional observatory study.Eligible stroke and healthy subjects are asked their demographic data and assessed for turning performance (stepping patterns and electromyography data of trunk muscles), trunk control (muscle strength, active range of motion, muscle mass and motor control in trunk) and motor function (recovery of extremities and balance function). The second part is a randomized controlled trial. Stroke participants are randomly allocated into trunk exercise and control groups. Trunk exercise group receives trunk exercise including trunk muscles stretching, trunk muscles strengthening, and task-related trunk control training for 30 minutes per session, twice a week for 12 weeks while control group remains their regular activities. Turning performance, trunk control and motor function are evaluated before and after training session.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
42
Inclusion Criteria
  • age between 20 and 80 years old
  • survivors of a single and unilateral stroke with hemiparesis experienced at least 6 months prior to their participation in the study
  • able to walk independently over a distance of 10 m without walking aids or orthoses
  • able to provide informed consent and follow instructions.
Exclusion Criteria
  • having additional musculoskeletal conditions or comorbid disabilities that could affect the assessment
  • having cognitive problems with a Mini-Mental State Examination score less than 24 or aphasia that could prevent subjects from following instructions.

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Trunk exercise groupTrunk exerciseParticipants received trunk exercise for 30 minutes per session, twice a week for 12 weeks.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Change from Baseline in turning duration at Week 12Baseline and Week 12

Turning duration (s) was recorded during turning 360-degree in place using APDM Opal wireless sensors. Longer duration represents poorer turning performance.

Change from Baseline in turning angular velocity at Week 12Baseline and Week 12

Angular velocity (m/s2) was recorded during turning 360-degree in place using APDM Opal wireless sensors. Slower angular velocity represents instability during turning.

Change from Baseline in trunk muscles electromyography during turning at Week 12Baseline and Week 12

Muscle activation patterns (amplitude, % reference voluntary contraction) are observed in bilateral External abdominal oblique (EO) and erector spinae (ES) through an electromyographic analysis. Greater muscle amplitude represents greater muscle contraction.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Change from Baseline in Trunk Impairment Scale at Week 12Baseline and Week 12

Trunk control was assessed by the Trunk Impairment Scale (TIS) which has good inter-rater reliability with intra-class coefficient 0.85-0.99 and internal consistency with Cronbach's α 0.65-0.89. The TIS evaluates static and dynamic sitting balance and trunk coordination in a sitting position. On the static and dynamic sitting balance and coordination subscales the maximal scores that can be attained are 7, 10 and 6 points. The total score for TIS ranges between 0 for a minimal performance to 23 for a perfect performance.

Change from Baseline in trunk range of motion at Week 12Baseline and Week 12

The trunk range of motion (ROM) was measured using a tape measure in sitting position. The spinous processes at C7 and S1 served as landmarks for placement of the tape and measurement for trunk flexion and extension ROM. The length between iliac crest and contralateral acromion of scapula was measured for trunk rotation ROM while the distance between the tip of the middle finger and the floor for trunk lateral flexion ROM. The difference between tape measures in starting and ending positions was calculated for all trunk movement directions. Greater value of trunk flexion and rotation but smaller value of trunk extension and lateral flexion represents better trunk ROM.

Change from Baseline in trunk muscles strength at Week 12Baseline and Week 12

Trunk flexors, extensors, rotators, and lateral flexors strength were measured using a MicroFET3 dynamometer. Participants were asked to generate the maximum trunk flexion, extension, rotation bilaterally and lateral flexion bilaterally for a period of 6 seconds each. Resistance was applied using the dynamometer to obtain the value of each trunk muscle (kg). Greater value represents greater muscle strength.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Taipei Tzu Chi Hospital

🇨🇳

New Taipei City, Taiwan

© Copyright 2025. All Rights Reserved by MedPath