The effect of trunk control on sitting balance and upper extremity functions in patients with subacute stroke

Abstract

Background: Impairment of trunk control is a common problem after stroke, and trunk impairment may affect many functions such as breathing, speech, limb movements and transfers.

Objective: The present study was aimed to investigate the effect of trunk control on sitting balance and upper extremity functions in individuals with subacute stroke.

Methods: A total of 30 patients with subacute stroke (14 female, 16 male) were included in this study. The mean age of the included patients was 59.80 ± 13.22 years, and the mean disease duration was 2.90 ± 1.38 months. Trunk Impairment Scale (TIS), Trunk Control Test (TCT), Function in Sitting Test (FIST), Fugl-Meyer Assessment Upper Extremity (FMA-UE), Brunnstrom Recovery Stages of Arm (BRS-A) and Brunnstrom Recovery Stages of Hand (BRS-H) were performed to the patients.

Results: The results of our study showed that there was a strong positive correlation was found between TIS and FIST (r = 0.765, p < 0.001). There was also a positive moderate correlation between TCT and FIST, FMA-UE, BRS-A and BRS-H (r = 0.67, r = 0.49, r = 0.49, r = 0.44; p < 0.05; respectively). There was a positive moderate correlation between TIS and FMA-UE, BRS-A and BRS-H (r = 0.67, r = 0.65 and r = 0.58; p < 0.005; respectively).

Conclusion: In conclusion, trunk control has been shown to be a factor associated with sitting balance and upper extremity function in patients with subacute stroke.

Keywords: Sitting balance; Stroke; Trunk control; Upper extremity function.