OBJECTIVES: To investigate whether wearing a pelvic belt during a trunk stability exercise program positively affects balance in patients with stroke. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-four patients with stroke were randomly allocated to the experimental or control group and performed a 60-min general physical therapy and an additional 30-min trunk stability exercise (five times/week for 6 weeks). Those in the experimental and control groups performed the trunk stability exercises with and without wearing the pelvic belt, respectively. RESULTS: The experimental group showed a significantly greater magnitude of improvements in balance than the control group (Postural Assessment Scale for Stroke +18.3%, F[1,22] = 14.350, p = 0.001, partial-eta2 = 0.395; Berg Balance Scale +11%, F[1,22] = 19.062, p = 0.000, partial-eta2 = 0.464; Timed Up and Go Test -10.5%, F[1,22] = 8.562, p = 0.008, partial-eta2 = 0.280; center of pressure path length with eyes open -15.1%, F[1,22] = 6.770, p = 0.016, partial-eta2 = 0.235; center of pressure path length with eyes closed -19.5%, F[1,22] = 9.256, p = 0.006, partial-eta2 = 0.296; center of pressure path velocity with eyes open -22.6%, F[1, 22] = 37.747, p = 0.000, partial-eta2 = 0.632; center of pressure path velocity with eyes closed -13.9%, F[1,22] = 6.511, p = 0.018, partial-eta2 = 0.228, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Wearing a pelvic belt while performing trunk stability exercise programs could be a more effective approach for improving balance in patients with stroke.
Copyright by WB Saunders Company.

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