PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to verify the effects of a modified bridging exercise on stroke patients with improvement in weight bearing on the affected side in standing and static balancing ability. SUBJECTS: Thirty patients who had a stroke were randomly allocated into a supine bridge exercise group (SBG, n = 10), a supine bridge exercise on a TOGU balance pad group (SBTG, n = 10), and a unilateral bridge exercise group (UBG, n = 10). METHODS: The SBG patients underwent supine bridge exercise, the SBTG patients underwent supine bridge exercise with a TOGU balance pad, and the UBG patients underwent unilateral bridge exercise. All groups received 20 minutes of training per day, five times per week, for four weeks. RESULTS: All groups showed significant changes in weight bearing in a standing position after the intervention. The SBTG and UBG groups showed significant changes in balance ability. CONCLUSION: According to the results of this study, bridge exercise was effective in improving weight bearing in a standing position and improving balance on stroke patients. The bridge exercise with a TOGU balance pad and the unilateral bridge exercise were especially more effective in anterior, posterior length in limit of stability following on standing.

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