DISCUSSION
This study examined the effect of core stabilization exercise on dynamic balance and gait functions of stroke patients. In this study, TUG was used to evaluate dynamic balance. Ranges of TUG scores have been reported for various samples of elderly people. In a previous study, men and women without known pathology, aged 70 to 84 years (mean=75 years), had a mean TUG score of 8.50 seconds (range=7–10)12). Geiger et al.14) reported that conduction biofeedback and conventional physical therapy programs resulted in a decrease in TUG from 23.08 before participation in an exercise program to 14.62 after participation in an exercise program. In our study, the before and after TUG score for subjects in the core stabilization exercise group showed a significant decrease, from 33.06±18.39 sec to 27.64±13.73 sec (p=0.029); no significant difference (from 30.33±12.58 sec to 24.85±8.76 sec) was observed in the control group (p=0.057). Core training presumably improved the balance of the lumbo-pelvic-hip complex, corrected postural alignments, and increased balance of the whole body. As a result, dynamic balance ability for transfer of center of gravity (COG) showed gradual improvement15).
More than 85% of stroke survivors eventually walk with or without assistance16). The common features of walking after stroke include decreased gait velocity and asymmetrical gait pattern17, 18). Achievement of normal gait patterns and speed is usually the ultimate goal of gait training. Bohannon et al.19) reported that mean comfortable gait speed ranged from 127.2 cm/sec for women in their 70s to 146.2 cm/sec for men in their 40s. Mean maximum gait speed ranged from 174.9 cm/sec for women in their 70s to 253.3 cm/sec for men in their 20s. Both gait speed measures were reliable (coefficients≥0.903) and showed significant correlation with age (r≥−0.210), height (r≥0.220), and the strengths of lower extremity muscle actions (r=0.190–0.500). Holden et al.20) reported that the velocity of gait in hemiparetic subjects (n=10) was 41% of normal. Duncan et al.21) investigated the effect of a home program aimed at improvement of endurance, balance, and strength for stroke subjects whose mean duration after onset was 66 days. After eight weeks, mean gait speed increased by 25 cm/sec among patients. Yang et al.22) studied dual task programs in stroke subjects and measured the speed of 5 m of walking. They found that gait speed showed a significant increase after participation in the dual task program, from 86.52 cm/sec to 115.35 cm/sec in chronic patients after stroke (p<0.05). In our study, the core stabilization exercise group showed a significantly increased gait velocity (from 44.83±18.83 cm/s to 58.91±18.21 cm/s, p=0.024) and cadence (from 74.55±13.85 steps/min to 84.07±14.00 steps/min, p=0.041), and the only significant difference observed between the core group and control group was in velocity (p=0.039). These findings are consistent with those of previous studies and suggest that core stabilization exercise increased posterior tilt of the pelvis and COG transfer during the swing phase through core training. Lamoth et al.23) studied that trunk coordination has an effect on gait parameters and that flexible adaptations in trunk coordination to changes in walking velocity are considered a hallmark of unaffected gait. And as found for cadence, the core stabilization exercise group showed a larger increased than the control group but there was no significant difference between groups. We suggest that core training might improve the stability of the lower trunk and pelvis and result in increased ability with regard to static balance, dynamic balance, and weight support of the more affected side and ultimately may contribute to a more stable gait.
Through this research, the core stabilization exercise was found to be effective in balance and gait functions of stroke patients. We expect that this core stabilization exercise will be used at stroke patient care centers in physical therapy as an effective form of training for balance and gait functions. Further research is needed in order to confirm the generalization of these findings and to identify which stroke patients might benefit from treadmill gait training.
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