Effect of Core Stability Training on Trunk Control and Sitting Balance in Patients With Paraplegia

Effect of Core Stability Training on Trunk Control and Sitting Balance in Patients With Paraplegia: A Randomized Controlled Trial

This study aims to investigate the effect of core stability training on trunk control and sitting balance in patients with paraplegia resulting from incomplete spinal cord injury.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Spinal Cord Injuries (SCI)
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: selected conventional physical therapy program; Other: conventional physical therapy program in addition to Core Stability Training.

Detailed Description

This randomized controlled trial was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of core stability training in improving trunk control and sitting balance in patients with paraplegia due to traumatic incomplete spinal cord injury. Forty-six participants diagnosed with incomplete SCI at neurological levels T6-T12 were randomly assigned into two groups. The study group received core stability training in addition to selected conventional physical therapy, while the control group received the same selected physical therapy program only.

Outcome measures included trunk control assessed by the Trunk Impairment Scale (TIS), sitting balance assessed by the Seated Functional Reach Test (SFRT) and T-shirt Test, and weight-bearing symmetry assessed using the Wii Balance Board (WBB). The study aimed to determine whether adding core stability training could significantly improve trunk control, sitting balance, and weight distribution symmetry in this population.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 46
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Egypt
  • Giza Governorate
    • Giza, Giza Governorate, Egypt, 12613
      • Faculty of physical therapy Cairo University

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients with traumatic incomplete SCI.
• Neurological level between T6 and T12 according to ASIA classification.
• Age from 25 to 35 years.
• Ability to maintain unsupported sitting.
• Medically stable condition.
• Adequate cognitive ability to follow instructions.
• Duration of injury more than six months.
• Moderate trunk impairment (TIS score 8-14).
• BMI less than 30 kg/m

Exclusion Criteria:

• other neurological disorders affecting balance.
• Uncontrolled cardiovascular conditions.
• Active lumbar or pelvic pressure sores.
• Orthopedic disorders affecting trunk control or sitting balance.
• Severe spasticity interfering with sitting balance

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: Control Group; Participants received selected conventional physical therapy program.	Other: selected conventional physical therapy program; Patients received selected conventional physical therapy program in form of: Passive and active-assisted ROM exercises for lower limbs; Upper limb strengthening exercises; Conventional trunk training on stable sitting surfaces; Functional sitting balance exercises; Transfer and wheelchair mobility training Treatment was conducted for about 60 minutes, three sessions per week for eight weeks
Experimental: Study Group; Participants received the same selected conventional physical therapy program in addition to Core Stability Training.	Other: selected conventional physical therapy program; Patients received selected conventional physical therapy program in form of: Passive and active-assisted ROM exercises for lower limbs; Upper limb strengthening exercises; Conventional trunk training on stable sitting surfaces; Functional sitting balance exercises; Transfer and wheelchair mobility training Treatment was conducted for about 60 minutes, three sessions per week for eight weeks; Other: conventional physical therapy program in addition to Core Stability Training.; The core stability program consisted of progressive trunk stabilization exercises targeting deep trunk muscles. Training included: Static trunk stabilization exercises; Multidirectional reaching tasks; Anterior, posterior, and lateral weight-shifting activities; Advanced exercises on unstable surfaces; Upper limb activities combined with trunk stabilization The sessions were divided into 40-45 minutes of selected conventional physical therapy modalities and exercises, followed immediately by 15-20 minutes of progressive Core Stability Training (CST) targeting the deep stabilizing muscles of the trunk .

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Weight Distribution Symmetry (Wii Balance Board)	Assessment of sitting weight-bearing symmetry using the Wii Balance Board by measuring the percentage of body weight distributed between the right and left sides.	Baseline and after 8 weeks
Trunk Impairment Scale (TIS)	Assessment of trunk control through evaluation of static sitting balance, dynamic sitting balance, and trunk coordination. Higher scores indicate better trunk performance.	Baseline and after 8 weeks
Seated Functional Reach Test (SFRT)	Assessment of dynamic sitting balance by measuring maximum forward reaching distance while maintaining sitting stability.	Baseline and after 8 weeks
T-shirt Test	Functional assessment of dynamic sitting balance and trunk coordination through timed dressing performance while seated.	Baseline and after 8 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Cairo University
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Mohamed A Fathy, BSc, Cairo University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): November 30, 2025
• Primary Completion (Actual): March 14, 2026
• Study Completion (Actual): March 29, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: June 3, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 3, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): June 8, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): June 8, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 3, 2026
• Last Verified: June 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Wounds and Injuries; Trauma, Nervous System; Spinal Cord Diseases; Spinal Cord Injuries
• Other Study ID Numbers: P.T.REC\012\006398)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

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

Drug and device information, study documents

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