The Application of Sling Exercise Training in People With Chronic Stroke - The Emphasis of Core Muscle Control on Gait
Trial Snapshot
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Status
- Completed
- Enrollment
- 19
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- Gait performance: change in stride length
Study Overview
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.
Study Design
- Study Type
- Interventional
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Intervention Model
- Parallel
- Primary Purpose
- Treatment
- Masking
- Single (Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility Criteria
- Ages
- 20 Years to 80 Years (Adult, Older Adult)
- Sex
- All
- Accepts Healthy Volunteers
- No
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.
Arms & Interventions
Sling exercise training group
Participants will practice core muscle exercise in different positions with sling systems (Redcord®, Norway).
Intervention: Sling exercise training (Other)
Conventional training group
Participants 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.
Intervention: Conventional balance training (Other)
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Gait performance: change in stride length
Time Frame: Change 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 single leg support time
Time Frame: Change 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 speed
Time Frame: Change 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 temporal and spatial symmetry index
Time Frame: Change 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 Outcomes
- Balance: change in maximal excursion(Change from baseline maximal excursion at 4 weeks and at 4 weeks after the intervention period (pre-, post-test and follow-up))
- Change in mobility performance(Change from baseline mobility performance at 4 weeks and at 4 weeks after the intervention period (pre-, post-test and follow-up))
- Change in trunk control(Change from baseline TIS at 4 weeks and at 4 weeks after the intervention period (pre-, post-test and follow-up))
- Change in trunk muscle strength: trunk lateral flexors(Change from baseline strength of trunk lateral flexors at 4 weeks and at 4 weeks after the intervention period (pre-, post-test and follow-up))
- Change in trunk muscle strength: trunk flexors(Change from baseline strength of trunk flexors at 4 weeks and at 4 weeks after the intervention period (pre-, post-test and follow-up))
- Change in trunk muscle strength: trunk extensors(Change from baseline strength of trunk extensors at 4 weeks and at 4 weeks after the intervention period (pre-, post-test and follow-up))
- Balance: change in directional control(Change from baseline directional control at 4 weeks and at 4 weeks after the intervention period (pre-, post-test and follow-up))
- Balance: change in one leg stance(Change 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))
- Balance: change in functional balance performance(Change from baseline BBS at 4 weeks and at 4 weeks after the intervention period (pre-, post-test and follow-up))
- Balance: change in movement velocity(Change from baseline movement velocity at 4 weeks and at 4 weeks after the intervention period (pre-, post-test and follow-up))
Investigators
Ray-Yau Wang
Professor
National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University