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The Application of Sling Exercise Training in People With Chronic Stroke

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Chronic Stroke
Interventions
Other: Conventional balance training
Other: Sling exercise training
Registration Number
NCT05352009
Lead Sponsor
National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University
Brief Summary

The purpose of this single-blinded, randomized controlled study aims to investigate the effects of sling exercise training (SET) for core muscle on gait performance in people with chronic stroke.

Detailed Description

Background and purpose: Balance and gait performance are often impaired in people post stroke. Evidence showed positive correlations between trunk control and balance and walking ability. Previous studies applying core muscle training reported positive effects on improving trunk control and sitting balance among patients with chronic stroke, but benefits on standing balance and gait performance remain undetermined. Sling exercise training (SET) has been suggested for improving core muscle stability and strength in people with stroke. However, studies about effects of SET on gait performance in stroke populations are limited. Therefore, the present study aims to investigate the effects of SET for core muscle on gait performance in people with chronic stroke.

Methods: Thirty-eight individuals with chronic stroke will be recruited and assigned to one of the two groups by randomization, sling exercise training group and conventional training group. The training is 30 minutes per session, 3 sessions per week for total of 4 weeks. Gait performance is the primary outcome to include gait speed, stride length, single leg support time and temporal and spatial symmetry measured by GAITRite® System. Secondary outcomes include balance, timed up-and-go (TUG) test and trunk performance. All outcomes will be assessed before, after the 4-week training program and at 4-week follow-up.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
19
Inclusion Criteria
  • Stroke after onset ≥ 6 months
  • Trunk impairment scale (TIS) score ≤ 21 at baseline
  • Brunnstrome stage ≥ IV over the affected lower extremity
  • Ability to independently walk for 10 meters with or without assistive devices
  • Intact cognition with mini-mental state examination (MMSE) ≥ 24
Exclusion Criteria
  • Any other significant musculoskeletal disorder, neurological disease or cardiovascular disease that may affect the participation in this study.
  • Vision or language deficit that may affect participating in this study.

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Conventional training groupConventional balance trainingParticipants will practice balance exercise, including sit-to-stand, forward reaching, postural training on the therapeutic ball, maintaining standing balance with eyes open and progress to eyes close, and tandem stance.
Sling exercise training groupSling exercise trainingParticipants will practice core muscle exercise in different positions with sling systems (Redcord®, Norway).
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Gait performance: change in single leg support timeChange from baseline single leg support time at 4 weeks and at 4 weeks after the intervention period (pre-, post-test and follow-up)

Using GAITRite® system to evaluate single leg support time in comfortable speed

Gait performance: change in gait speedChange from baseline gait speed at 4 weeks and at 4 weeks after the intervention period (pre-, post-test and follow-up)

Using GAITRite® system to evaluate gait speed in comfortable speed

Gait performance: change in stride lengthChange from baseline stride length at 4 weeks and at 4 weeks after the intervention period (pre-, post-test and follow-up)

Using GAITRite® system to evaluate stride length in comfortable speed

Gait performance: change in temporal and spatial symmetry indexChange from baseline temporal and spatial symmetry index at 4 weeks and at 4 weeks after the intervention period (pre-, post-test and follow-up)

Using GAITRite® system to evaluate temporal and spatial symmetry index in comfortable speed

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Change in trunk muscle strength: trunk flexorsChange from baseline strength of trunk flexors at 4 weeks and at 4 weeks after the intervention period (pre-, post-test and follow-up)

Using hand held dynamometer (Power Tract II) to measure muscle strength of trunk flexors

Change in trunk muscle strength: trunk extensorsChange from baseline strength of trunk extensors at 4 weeks and at 4 weeks after the intervention period (pre-, post-test and follow-up)

Using hand held dynamometer (Power Tract II) to measure muscle strength of trunk extensors

Balance: change in directional controlChange from baseline directional control at 4 weeks and at 4 weeks after the intervention period (pre-, post-test and follow-up)

Using Balance Master®: Limits of Stability test to assess directional control during moving center of pressure to the highlighted target.

Balance: change in one leg stanceChange from baseline postural sway under one leg stance at 4 weeks and at 4 weeks after the intervention period (pre-, post-test and follow-up)

Using Balance Master® to measure the sway under one leg standing

Balance: change in functional balance performanceChange from baseline BBS at 4 weeks and at 4 weeks after the intervention period (pre-, post-test and follow-up)

Using Berg Balance Scale (BBS) to assess functional balance performance. Berg Balance Scale is a 14-item scale which scoring 0-4 of each, ranges from 0 to 56, and higher score indicates better balance performance.

Balance: change in maximal excursionChange from baseline maximal excursion at 4 weeks and at 4 weeks after the intervention period (pre-, post-test and follow-up)

Using Balance Master®: Limits of Stability test to assess maximal excursion during moving center of pressure to the highlighted target.

Change in mobility performanceChange from baseline mobility performance at 4 weeks and at 4 weeks after the intervention period (pre-, post-test and follow-up)

Using Timed up-and-go (TUG) test to assess mobility

Change in trunk controlChange from baseline TIS at 4 weeks and at 4 weeks after the intervention period (pre-, post-test and follow-up)

Using Trunk Impairment Scale (TIS) to assess ability of trunk control. The trunk impairment scale ranges from 0 to 23, and a higher scoring indicates a better trunk control.

Change in trunk muscle strength: trunk lateral flexorsChange from baseline strength of trunk lateral flexors at 4 weeks and at 4 weeks after the intervention period (pre-, post-test and follow-up)

Using hand held dynamometer (Power Tract II) to measure muscle strength of trunk lateral flexors

Balance: change in movement velocityChange from baseline movement velocity at 4 weeks and at 4 weeks after the intervention period (pre-, post-test and follow-up)

Using Balance Master®: Limits of Stability test to assess movement velocity during moving center of pressure to the highlighted target.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University

🇨🇳

Taipei, Taiwan

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