Comparing the Efficacy of One Legged Bridging With and Without Hip Abduction using a Sling on Contralateral Side on Trunk Stability and Balance in Post Stroke Patients

BACKGROUND: Stroke is the second leading cause of death and a major cause of long term disability. Hemiplegia is a main symptom of stroke, which results a decrease in trunk adjustment ability. Many rehabilitation interventions have been imposed to strengthen the trunk and hip extensor muscles to improve trunk stability and balance. One of such an intervention using a sling, one legged bridging with hip abduction has an effect of increase the trunk stability by neutralizing the pelvis by gluteus maximus contraction. One legged bridging without hip abduction is also a form of intervention which increases the trunk stability by contracting the adductor magnus that reduces the intra pelvic space and adjust the joint position to contract the abdominal muscle. This study compares the efficacy of biomechanical relationship of one legged bridging with hip abduction and functional relationship of one legged bridging without hip abduction on improving the trunk stability and balance in post stroke patients. OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy of one legged pelvic bridging with and without hip abduction using a sling on contralateral side on trunk stability and balance in stroke patients. Design: Prospective Quasi experimental study design (pre-test and post-test with treatment comparison). Setting: Department of Neurology, Department of PMR (SRC), PSG hospitals, Coimbatore. Participants: Group A: 6 subjects received one legged bridging with hip abduction. Group B: 6 subjects received one legged bridging without hip abduction. Interventions: Group A: 10 repetitions per set for 3 sets, 1 session per day continued for 2 weeks (40 minutes). Group B: 10 repetitions per set for 3 sets, 1 session per day continued for 2 weeks (40 minutes). Outcome measures: Trunk impairment scale (TIS), Berg balance scale (BBS). RESULTS: All participants in Group-A and Group-B showed significant improvement in TIS with a mean difference of 5.500 and 1.833 respectively. The calculated "t" value using the paired "t"test for Group A and B were 11.000 and 4.568 (p 0.05). CONCLUSION: One legged bridging with hip abduction is effective in comparing with one legged bridging without hip abduction on improving the trunk stability but the balance is not clear by a short period of intervention using a sling on contralateral side in post stroke patients