Effects of Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) Neck Pattern Over Trunk Specific Exercises on Trunk Control and Balance in Patients with Chronic Stroke: An Experimental study

INTRODUCTION: Cerebral vascular accident provides a base for modern researchers to implement their ideas to bring a resolution in this field and enhance the quality of life in patients. Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability in low and middle income countries including India, largely driven by demographic changes and enhanced by the increasing prevalence of the key modifiable risk factor. The poor are increasingly affected by stroke, because of both the changing population exposures to risk factors and most tragically, not being able to afford the high cost for stroke care. Majority of stroke survivors continue to live with disabilities, and the costs of on-going rehabilitation and long term-care are largely undertaken by family members, which impoverish their families. Like other developing countries, stroke is a fast emerging major problem and a leading cause of death and disability in India. Therefore, it is one of the common life threatening neurological disorder. AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim of the study was to find out the effects of Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation neck pattern over trunk specific exercises on trunk control and balance in patients with chronic stroke. METHODS: A total of 30 subjects were selected and randomly divided into group A of 15 subjects, who received the proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation neck pattern exercise along with Trunk specific exercises and group B of 15 subjects, who received Trunk specific exercises. Trunk impairment scale and Berg Balance Scale were used to measure the outcomes. DATA ANALYSIS: The trunk impairment scale test data. The standard deviation for trunk impairment scale of group A is 13.33 and the standard deviation for trunk impairment scale of group B is 11.26 the calculated ‘t’ value is 3.45 where the table value was 2.048 and finally the p value is 0.001795. The standard deviation for Berg Balance scale of group A is 33.36 and the standard deviation of group B is 30.7. The calculated ‘t’ value is 3.45 where the table value was 2.048 and finally the ‘p’ value is 0.001795 and the calculated ‘t’ value is 2.5 where the table value is 2.048 and finally the ’p’ value is 0.001795. RESULT: The result shows significant difference between the pre and post therapy scores when evaluated with Trunk Impairment and Berg Balance Scale. A statistically significant improvement was obtained in group A on trunk control and balance in patients with chronic stroke. (P