Efficacy of Swiss Ball Exercises Versus Kinesthetic Training for Improving Balance and Functional Mobility in Chronic Stroke Patients. (Not any)

May 16, 2026 updated by: Nisha Fazal

Efficacy of Swiss Ball Exercises Versus Kinesthetic Training for Improving Balance and Functional Mobility in Chronic Stroke Patients

Stroke is one of the leading causes of long-term disability and commonly results in impaired balance, reduced trunk control, and difficulty in functional mobility. Chronic stroke patients often experience limitations in daily activities due to poor postural stability and decreased motor coordination. Various rehabilitation approaches are used to improve balance and mobility, among which Swiss ball exercises and kinesthetic training are considered beneficial interventions.

The purpose of this randomized controlled trial is to compare the effectiveness of Swiss ball exercises versus kinesthetic training in improving balance and functional mobility in patients with chronic stroke. A total of 36 participants diagnosed with chronic stroke for more than six months will be recruited and randomly allocated into two groups. Group A will receive Swiss ball exercises focusing on trunk stability, coordination, and balance control, while Group B will receive kinesthetic training aimed at improving proprioception, sensory feedback, and motor control.

The intervention program will continue for 8 weeks under the supervision of qualified physiotherapists in the Physiotherapy Department of Shalimar Health Centre. Balance and functional mobility will be assessed before and after the intervention using the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and Timed Up and Go (TUG) test.

This study aims to determine which intervention is more effective in enhancing balance and mobility in chronic stroke patients and may help improve rehabilitation strategies for stroke recovery.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

Stroke commonly leads to long-term physical impairments including poor balance, impaired proprioception, decreased trunk stability, and reduced functional mobility. These deficits negatively affect independence in activities of daily living and increase the risk of falls in chronic stroke patients. Rehabilitation strategies focusing on balance retraining and motor control are essential for improving functional outcomes and quality of life.

Swiss ball exercises are widely used in neurorehabilitation to improve trunk control, postural stability, coordination, and balance through unstable surface training. These exercises stimulate core muscle activation and enhance neuromuscular control during functional movements. On the other hand, kinesthetic training focuses on proprioceptive input, sensory feedback, motor relearning, and coordinated movement patterns to improve postural control and mobility.

Although both treatment approaches have shown beneficial effects in stroke rehabilitation, limited evidence is available comparing their effectiveness specifically in chronic stroke patients. Therefore, this randomized controlled trial aims to compare the efficacy of Swiss ball exercises and kinesthetic training in improving balance and functional mobility among individuals with chronic stroke.

A total of 36 participants meeting the eligibility criteria will be recruited from the Physiotherapy Department of Shalimar Health Centre. Participants will be randomly allocated into two equal groups using computerized randomization. Group A will receive a structured Swiss ball exercise program, while Group B will receive kinesthetic training exercises. Both intervention protocols will be supervised by qualified physiotherapists and conducted for 8 weeks.

Outcome measures will include the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) for assessment of balance and the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test for assessment of functional mobility. Measurements will be recorded at baseline and after completion of the intervention period. Data collection will be performed by an assessor blinded to group allocation to minimize assessment bias.

The findings of this study may provide evidence regarding the comparative effectiveness of Swiss ball exercises and kinesthetic training and may assist physiotherapists in selecting appropriate rehabilitation interventions for chronic stroke patients.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
36

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

  • Pakistan
    • Punjab Province
      • Lahore, Punjab Province, Pakistan, 54000

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

Patients diagnosed with stroke for past 6 or more then 6 months both sides (R, L).

Age: 45-65 years . Absence of cognitive impairment ( Mini Mental State Examination Score >23). Able to follow 3 step command. Medically stable. Both genders. Who can manage to come to the medical centre. Who score 21-50 on berg balance scale (BBS). Able to participate in the exercise program. Who don't have any cardiovascular or musculoskeletal problem.

Exclusion Criteria:

Cognitive impairment hindering performance. Other neurological problems. Acute or subacute stroke. Impair vision without correction. Other health problem ( cardiovascular, DM etc). Pain during standing or walking. Lake the ability to participate.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: group A Swiss Ball Exercise Group
Participants in this group will receive a structured Swiss ball exercise program designed to improve balance, trunk control, coordination, and functional mobility in chronic stroke patients. The intervention will include progressive sitting, standing, weight-shifting, bridging, and dynamic balance exercises performed using a Swiss ball under physiotherapist supervision for 8 weeks.
Behavioral: Swiss Ball Exercise Training
Participants assigned to this intervention will perform a progressive Swiss ball exercise program aimed at improving trunk stability, postural control, balance, coordination, and functional mobility in chronic stroke patients. The intervention includes sitting balance activities, pelvic tilts, bridging exercises, dynamic reaching tasks, weight-shifting activities, wall squats, and gait-related exercises using a Swiss ball. Exercises will be supervised by qualified physiotherapists and performed over an 8-week treatment period with gradual progression in difficulty.
Active Comparator: Kinesthetic Training Group
Participants in this group will receive kinesthetic training focused on proprioception, postural control, sensory feedback, balance retraining, and functional mobility enhancement. The intervention will include weight-shifting activities, balance exercises, gait training, and motor control exercises supervised by physiotherapists for 8 weeks.
Behavioral: Kinesthetic Training
Participants assigned to this intervention will receive kinesthetic training focused on improving proprioception, sensory feedback, postural stability, motor control, and functional mobility. The program includes static and dynamic balance activities, weight-shifting exercises, tandem standing, gait training, obstacle navigation, dual-task activities, and proprioceptive exercises performed under physiotherapist supervision. The intervention will be conducted progressively over 8 weeks according to participant performance and tolerance.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Berg Balance Scale (BBS)
Time Frame: Baseline (Week 0) and post-intervention after 6 weeks of treatment
The Berg Balance Scale (BBS) will be used to assess static and dynamic balance in chronic stroke patients. It consists of 14 functional tasks such as sitting, standing, turning, and reaching activities. Each item is scored from 0 to 4, with a maximum total score of 56. Higher scores indicate better balance and lower risk of falls. The BBS is a reliable and validated tool widely used in stroke rehabilitation to evaluate postural control and functional balance.
Baseline (Week 0) and post-intervention after 6 weeks of treatment

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Nisha Fazal

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Nisha Fazal, MSPTN, The University of Lahore, Lahore

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
May 7, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
June 27, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
June 30, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
May 7, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
May 7, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
May 14, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
May 20, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
May 16, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
May 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • 70177165

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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