Pelvic Belt Wearing during Exercise Improves Balance of Patients with Stroke: A Randomized, Controlled, Preliminary Trial

Abstract

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=.001, η²=.395; Berg Balance Scale: +11%, F (1, 22)=19.062, p=.000, η²=.464; Timed Up and Go Test: -10.5%, F (1, 22)=8.562, p=.008, η²=.280; center of pressure path length with eyes open: -15.1%, F (1, 22)=6.770, p=.016, η²=.235; center of pressure path length with eyes closed: -19.5%, F (1, 22)=9.256, p=.006, η²=.296; center of pressure path velocity with eyes open: -22.6%, F (1, 22)=37.747, p=.000, η²=.632; center of pressure path velocity with eyes closed: -13.9%, F (1, 22)=6.511, p=.018, η²=.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.

Keywords: Balance; Pelvic belt; Postural control; Stroke; trunk stability exercise.