Effectiveness of Bobath Approach on Trunk balance in patients with stroke

The trunk muscles are impaired in stroke patients, but in comparison to limb muscle weakness on one side of the body, the trunk muscles are impaired in both ipsilateral and contralateral side of the body. Weakness in the trunk muscles leads to loss of balance, stability, increased postural sway and functional disability. The trunk control is one of the most important indicators of the functional recovery after stroke. Trunk control is the ability of the trunk muscles to allow the body to remain upright, adjust weight shift and perform selective movements of the trunk so as to maintain the center of mass with in the base of support during static and dynamic adjustments. So the aim of the study is focus to work on trunk balance in patients with stroke. Hence the need is raised to evaluate the effectiveness of bobath approach on trunk balance with stroke. AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim of the study was to find out the effectiveness of bobath approach along with conventional physiotherapy and conventional physiotherapy on trunk balance in stroke patients. METHODS: The study was designed as a controlled experimental design. The 30 subjects with stroke who fullfilled the selection of criteria were selected and they conveniently divided in two groups: experimental group was given Bobath approach along with conventional physiotherapy and control group was given conventional physiotherapy alone. Trunk balance was assessed with trunk impairment scale. Both groups underwent therapy for 4 weeks, 4 days a weekly and 40 minutes for each session. RESULTS: SIGNIFICANT improvement in trunk balance was seen in both the groups. Bobath approach shows more superior improvement on TIS than in conventional physiotherapy. Bobath approach showed intervention at the level 0.05% with p value < 0.05. CONCLUSION: The study confirmed the effects of Bobath approach along with conventional physiotherapy on trunk balance in stroke patients is significantly more when compared to control group