Effects of Stable-Sitting Trunk Exercises on Trunk Muscle Activation and Postural Control in Stroke Survivors: A Pilot Study
Stable-Sitting Trunk Exercises for Stroke Rehabilitation
Abstract
Post-stroke trunk rehabilitation often necessitates additional equipment or clinical assistance, which poses challenges in resource-limited settings. Although stable-sitting trunk exercises offer cost-effective alternatives, studies on their immediate effects are limited. Hence, this study aimed to investigate the immediate effects of five common stable-sitting trunk exercises on erector spinae (ES) muscle and postural control of stroke patients. A cross-sectional observational experimental design was employed in this study. The 11 paretic stroke patients recruited were asked to perform five stable-sitting core exercises on a customised force plate. The muscle activities of the individuals were measured with electromyography (EMG). Postural control measures such as vertical ground reaction force (GRF), and centre of pressure (CoP) were evaluated utilising the force plate. The ANOVA results demonstrated that the trunk rotation exercise (43.25 + 19.57%RVC) elicited significantly higher muscle activity in the left ES muscle than flexion-extension (25.47 + 17.70%RVC; p = 0.011) and sagittal-inclination (25.93 + 18.19%RVC; p = 0.017). Similarly, the trunk rotation exercise activated more muscle activity in the right ES muscle than in the other exercises. This finding suggests the potential of trunk rotation exercise as an effective addition to rehabilitation programs, especially in resource-limited settings or home-based interventions.
Keywords :
Sitting position,
stroke rehabilitation,
trunk control,
Abstrak
Latihan pemulihan batang tubuh selepas strok sering memerlukan peralatan tambahan atau bantuan klinikal yang menimbulkan cabaran dalam persekitaran sumber terhad. Walaupun latihan batang tubuh duduk yang stabil menawarkan alternatif kos efektif, kajian tentang kesan segeranya adalah terhad. Oleh itu, kajian ini bertujuan untuk menentukan kesan segera lima latihan asas batang tubuh duduk yang stabil pada otot erektor spina (ES) dan kawalan postur pesakit strok. Reka bentuk eksperimen pemerhatian kajian keratan lintang telah digunakan dalam kajian ini. Sejumlah 11 pesakit strok yang mengalami kelemahan di bahagian paretik dipilih untuk melaksanakan lima latihan teras duduk stabil di atas plat daya yang direka khas. Aktiviti otot individu diukur menggunakan elektromiografi (EMG). Ukuran kawalan postur seperti daya tindak balas tanah menegak (GRF), dan pusat tekanan (CoP) dinilai dengan menggunakan plat daya tersebut. Keputusan ANOVA menunjukkan latihan putaran batang tubuh (43.25 + 19.57%RVC) telah mengaktifkan otot ES kiri yang lebih tinggi secara signifikan berbanding dengan fleksi-ekstensi (25.47 + 17.70%RVC; p = 0.011) dan kecondongan-sagital (25.93 + 18.19%RVC; p = 0.017). Begitu juga, latihan putaran batang tubuh mengaktifkan lebih banyak aktiviti otot dalam otot ES kanan berbanding dengan latihan lain. Penemuan ini mencadangkan potensi latihan putaran batang tubuh sebagai tambahan yang berkesan kepada program pemulihan, terutamanya dalam persekitaran sumber terhad atau intervensi berpangkalan rumah.
Kata Kunci :
Kawalan batang tubuh,
posisi duduk,
rehabilitasi strok,
Correspondance Address
Muhammad Fauzinizam Razali. School of Mechanical Engineering, Universiti Sains Malaysia 14300 Nibong Tebal, Penang, Malaysia. Tel: +604-5996382 Email: mefauzinizam@usm.my
