The Relationship of Trunk Control With Lower Extremity Sense, Balance and Gait in Stroke

Cerebrovascular accident is the third leading cause of death in developed countries after heart disease and cancer. In adults, it ranks first among neurological diseases in terms of causing death and disability. About one-third of stroke patients experience permanent physical dysfunction. This situation has a negative impact on the economic, social, psychological life and general quality of life of the patient and his family. Stroke is one of the leading causes of long-term disability in adults due to problems such as activity limitations and participation restrictions caused by disorders in body functions. Movement disorder is one of the most common symptoms of stroke, and people with stroke often have trouble falling while walking after they are discharged from the hospital. Therefore, one of the main goals of stroke rehabilitation is to regain independent mobility with a safe and stable gait pattern. In addition to all these, one of the problems faced by most stroke patients is sensory-perception disorders. Sensory impairment can be experienced as the inability to perceive the senses or the inability to distinguish the senses. It should be considered that sensory awareness decreases as more than one sensory impulse competes with each other at the same time, and this situation should not be ignored during the evaluation. Although motor movement is governed by the normal motor field, the adjustment of our position in space is entirely the task of the sensory field. It is not possible to initiate and coordinate movement without sensory control. Since environmental change cannot be perceived during movement, it is not possible to provide environmental adaptation.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Stroke
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Test

Detailed Description

When the literature is examined, it is stated that the best functional results are revealed by a good postural control. Because the trunk is the key point of the body. Proximal trunk control is essential for distal extremity movements, balance and functional activities. It provides trunk control, static and dynamic posture, upright posture of the body, and selective trunk movements. Studies have emphasized the importance of intensive rehabilitation therapy targeting trunk control after stroke. Several randomized controlled trials have looked at the effects of trunk exercises in people with stroke. Saeys and colleagues have shown that the effects of trunk exercises improve standing balance and mobility as well as trunk performance.

There are only a few clinical assessment tools in the literature to evaluate trunk performance. The Trunk Disorder Scale examines static and dynamic sitting balance and trunk coordination. "Postural Assessment Scale for Stroke Patients" (PASS) was developed to evaluate postural control and balance in detail in stroke patients. This scale helps to evaluate postural control and balance of stroke patients, to predict prognosis, to shape treatment, and to observe time-dependent development.

In the literature, the rate of sensory problems accompanying stroke is given differently. In the study conducted by Kim and Choi-Kwon in 67 individuals with acute stroke, two-point discrimination, localization identification, position sense, and stereognosis senses were evaluated and it was found that these senses were affected in 85% of the individuals. In another study, it was stated that sensory impairment in the lower extremities affected gait speed, gait symmetry, standing and walking balance.

However, the relationship between trunk control and lower extremity sense of stroke individuals has not been examined in the literature. In addition, studies on balance and walking have not been sufficiently observed.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 30

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Turkey
  • Kahramanmaraş, Turkey
    • Kahramanmaras Sutcu Imam University

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 30 years to 85 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: N/A
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

• Sampling Method: Probability Sample

Study Population

Stroke Patients

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Able to walk 10 m without physical assistance,
• Lower extremity functions are in stages 2-6 according to Brunnstrom motor recovery stages,
• At least 3 days and at most 24 months have passed since the stroke,
• Stroke individuals with a score of 7 or higher on the Hodkinson Mental score

Exclusion Criteria:

• Having neurological and orthopedic problems that may affect walking other than stroke,
• Having a history of cardiovascular and rheumatological diseases that prevent daily activities,
• Lesion or fracture in the lower extremity,
• Lower extremity spasticity 4 according to the modified Ashworth Scale,
• Individuals with aphasia and communication disorders

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

1

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort	Intervention / Treatment
One group; Stroke patients	Other: Test; Measurements

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Trunk Impairment Scale	The Trunk Impairment Scale consists of 3 subscales: static sitting balance (3 items), dynamic sitting balance (10 items) and coordination (4 items). The maximum score of the owner is 7, 10 and 6 points respectively. The Total Trunk Impairment Scale score ranges from 0 to 23, with higher scores indicating better trunk control.	At baseline
Tinetti Balance and Gait Test	It consists of two parts, walking and balance. Consisting of 16 questions in total, the scale consists of 9 questions in which balance is evaluated first, followed by 7 questions in which gait is evaluated. The total score obtained by the evaluated participant from the first 9 questions constitutes the balance score, and the total score obtained from the following 7 questions constitutes the walking score. 2 points means that the requested task was done correctly, 1 point means that the task was done with adaptations, and 0 points means that the desired task could not be done. A total test score of 18 or less indicates a high fall risk, a moderate fall risk of 19-24 points, and a low-level fall risk with a score above 24.	At baseline
Ten Meter Walking Test	During the test, the patient walks at a normal walking pace for a distance of 10 meters and the time is recorded.	At baseline
Fugl Mayer Assesment of Sensorimotor Function	The sensory subscale of FMA (FMA-S) consists of 12 sub-parameters; 4 items are for light touch and 8 items are for proprioception sense. Scoring is between 0-24 points. The light touch sensation is subjectively tested. Joint position is tested on the thumb, wrist, elbow, and interphalangeal joint of the glenohumeral joint. Position sense of the lower extremities is tested on the toe, ankle, knee and hip joint.	At baseline

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Turkish version of Postural Assessment Scale for Stroke Patients (PASS-T)	PASS is a special scale used to measure balance even in stroke patients with very low physical performance. The PASS includes 12 items that measure a person's balance performance in situations where the degree of difficulty is different, that is, when changing positions while lying, sitting, standing or standing. The scale is evaluated between 0-36. Between 0-3, the feasibility of the movement is tested; "0" is the lowest; "3" is the highest value.	At baseline

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Kahramanmaras Sutcu Imam University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): January 15, 2021
• Primary Completion (Actual): June 1, 2021
• Study Completion (Actual): June 15, 2021

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: February 8, 2022
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 8, 2022
• First Posted (Actual): February 17, 2022

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): February 17, 2022
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 8, 2022
• Last Verified: February 1, 2022

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: balance; trunk control; Lower extremity sense
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Cardiovascular Diseases; Vascular Diseases; Cerebrovascular Disorders; Brain Diseases; Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Stroke
• Other Study ID Numbers: ipekkkkirmaci

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: UNDECIDED

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No