Spinal Cord Injuries (SCI)
Conditions
Brief summary
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.
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.
Interventions
Patients received selected conventional physical therapy program in form of: 1. Passive and active-assisted ROM exercises for lower limbs 2. Upper limb strengthening exercises 3. Conventional trunk training on stable sitting surfaces 4. Functional sitting balance exercises 5. Transfer and wheelchair mobility training Treatment was conducted for about 60 minutes, three sessions per week for eight weeks
OTHERconventional 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: 1. Static trunk stabilization exercises 2. Multidirectional reaching tasks 3. Anterior, posterior, and lateral weight-shifting activities 4. Advanced exercises on unstable surfaces 5. 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 .
Sponsors
Cairo University
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
25 Years to 35 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
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
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Weight Distribution Symmetry (Wii Balance Board) | Baseline and after 8 weeks | 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. |
| Trunk Impairment Scale (TIS) | Baseline and after 8 weeks | Assessment of trunk control through evaluation of static sitting balance, dynamic sitting balance, and trunk coordination. Higher scores indicate better trunk performance. |
| Seated Functional Reach Test (SFRT) | Baseline and after 8 weeks | Assessment of dynamic sitting balance by measuring maximum forward reaching distance while maintaining sitting stability. |
| T-shirt Test | Baseline and after 8 weeks | Functional assessment of dynamic sitting balance and trunk coordination through timed dressing performance while seated. |
Countries
Egypt
Contacts
PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORMohamed A Fathy, BSc
Cairo University
Outcome results
None listed