Core strengthening has been rediscovered in rehabilitation. The term has come to connote lumbar stabilization and other therapeutic exercise regimens. In essence, it describes the muscular control required around the lumbar spine for maintenance of functional stability. The “core” has been described as a box, with the abdominals in the front, paraspinal and gluteal muscles in the back, the diaphragm as the roof, and the pelvic floor and hip girdle musculature as the bottom7). Particular attention has been paid to the core because it serves as a muscular corset that works as a unit to stabilize the body and spine, with and without limb movement. In short, the core serves as the center of the functional kinetic chain. In the world of alternative medicine, the core has been referred to as the “powerhouse”, the foundation or engine of all limb movement8). With regard to impaired trunk control and poor balance, previous studies have advocated efficient neuromuscular control for trunk stability and accurate trunk muscle recruitment patterns for control of spinal load in relation to a given task and posture9, 10).
Many recent studies have reported on core stability and its affect on athletes and patients with low back pain8), however, few studies on the relationship between core stability and balance ability and gait in patients with hemiplegia have been reported. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the effect of core stabilization exercise on dynamic balance and gait functions in stroke patients.