Abstract

Loss of trunk functions following stroke ranks among the major causes of balance impairment and falls. This pilot study was aimed at developing and testing a tool to objectively assess trunk balance in post-stroke individuals.. A total of 20 participants comprising 10 stroke patients from the Murtala Mohammed Specialist Hospital Kano and 10 apparently healthy individuals were recruited into the experimental and control group, respectively. A quasi-experimental study design was used to develop a tool for objective assessment of post-stroke balance.The tool developed by the researchers was applied to assess the differences in lateral flexion of the affected and non-affected side in stroke patients (experimental group), as compared to the control group. The data obtained was summarized and analyzed using the descriptive statistics of frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation. Moreover inferential statistics of t-test were applied for comparisons of lateral flexions between the affected and unaffected side of stroke patients and between the control and experimental group. The mean ages were 45.70±10.97 and 52.60±8.55 for the experimental and control group, respectively. The study results revealed a statistically significant difference in trunk left side flexion between the control group and the affected side in the experimental group. Furthermore, the findings showed a significant difference in trunk right side flexion between the affected and non-affected side in the experimental group (P<0.005).Considering the above,, the tool developed can be used to objectively discriminate between paretic and non-paretic lateral flexions in stroke patients and to determine balance impairment.

Authors and Affiliations