ClinicalTrials.gg
CompletedNCT06679699Updated Nov 8, 2024

Patient Education Program and Trunk Control Exercises in Post-stroke

An interventional study of Trunk control exercises combined with patient education program and Trunk control exercises in Strokes Thrombotic, sponsored by Gulf Medical University. Completed at 1 site in United Arab Emirates. Open to participants aged 40 Years to 70 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2024-11-08.

Sponsored by Gulf Medical University · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment

From the registry’s dates

  • Registered 3 years 10 months after the study started (first participant enrolled Dec 2020, registered Nov 2024).
Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
40
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
40 Years to 70 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

The trunk movement awareness and education of individuals with post-stroke hemiparesis is not emphasized adequately in clinical practice. Therefore, this current study was made to hypothesize whether a patient education program about dynamic trunk control exercises during stroke rehabilitation may influence trunk control. 40 individuals with post-stroke hemiparesis were recruited and randomly allocated to the experimental and control group. Both the groups received 1 hour of exercises focusing more on dynamic trunk control exercises with patient education chart (experimental group) and without the patient education chart (control group) for 4 weeks.

Read the detailed description

The prevalence of stroke in adults increased by 14.6% in 2022 compared to data collected in 2013. Poor balance, postural asymmetry, abnormal gait, and fall-related complications due to reduced trunk control can limit social interactions. Trunk control is an important predictor of functional independence for stroke-affected individuals recovering from functional impairments. Studies have found that individuals with post-stroke hemiparesis have mild-to-severe trunk dysfunction even 6 months post-stroke occurrence. Evidence also indicates that the muscular strength of the trunk is significantly reduced in acute and chronic stages, which leads to poor functional performance. As trunk function significantly contributes to functional recovery, the importance of trunk training needs to be emphasized, and education should be provided to stroke patients for faster functional mobility.

Patient education programs guide patients, caregivers, and family members to understand and promote the patient's participation in continuing care and treatment decisions. This method assists patients in incorporating information, expertise, beliefs, and behaviors related to their health promotion and faster functional recovery from physical and psychological impairments. Patient education provides adequate and appropriate scientific knowledge for patients to improve their awareness of illness conditions and health-promoting practices. Studies also suggest that the patient education process increases patient's involvement in rehabilitation practices.

Although trunk control exercises are performed during routine rehabilitation programs, knowledge and education about trunk training exercises are not specifically emphasized in stroke rehabilitation protocols. Stroke patients need to be educated not only about upper and lower functional training but also should understand trunk control training during their rehabilitation process to acquire skills.

In this proposed study, a patient education program highlighting the significance of trunk control, its role in functional improvement, and patient-centered self-care might provide better functional mobility compared to a standalone trunk control exercises program. Through this program, patients can concentrate not only on limb training but also emphasize trunk-related functional tasks to improve overall body function. Therefore, our current study hypothesized that a patient education program about the trunk training program during the rehabilitation process may improve balance and functional mobility better than a standalone trunk control exercises program in patients with post-stroke hemiparesis.

02

Conditions studied

  • Strokes Thrombotic

Keywords

  • Stroke
  • Hemiparesis
  • Trunk control
  • Patient education
  • Balance
03

In context

Thrombotic Stroke

21 studies on the registry are indexed under Thrombotic Stroke; 8 are open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 40 is below the median of 85 across 13 interventional studies indexed under Thrombotic Stroke.

Browse Thrombotic Stroke studies →

Lead sponsor

Gulf Medical University is the lead sponsor of 43 studies on the registry; 14 are open to participants now.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
40 Years to 70 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.

Inclusion criteria

  • Diagnosed with ischemic stroke
  • Grade 1 - 2 Spasticity
  • Hemiparesis

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Moderate to severe cognitive deficits,
  • Alzheimer's disease,
  • Language difficulties,
  • Unstable blood pressure
  • Uncontrolled epilepsy,
  • Dislocations/fractures
05

Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
Single (Outcomes assessor)
Enrollment
40 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    Trunk control exercises with Patient education program

    This group have received Trunk control exercises along with patient education program.

    Device: Trunk control exercises combined with patient education program

  • Active comparator
    Trunk control exercises

    This group have received standalone trunk control exercises.

    Device: Trunk control exercises

Interventions

  • DeviceTrunk control exercises combined with patient education program

    Patients in this group received about 45-60 minutes of trunk control exercises in lying and sitting, 5 days a week for 4 consecutive weeks. Each exercise was performed with 10-20 repetitions per session depending on the patient's ability. Trunk exercises or other activities targeting the trunk while sitting and lying, to minimize the influence of lower extremity function performed either on a stable or unstable surfaces. In addition, the experimental group provided a patient education program which focuses on the importance of trunk control and benefits of trunk control exercises during the rehabilitation process. Further, caregivers and family members were also explained about the patient education program and adherence with treatment protocol during and after the interventions.

  • DeviceTrunk control exercises

    Patients in this group received about 45-60 minutes of trunk control exercises in lying and sitting, 5 days a week for 4 consecutive weeks. Each exercise was performed with 10-20 repetitions per session depending on the patient's ability. Trunk exercises or other activities targeting the trunk while sitting and lying, to minimize the influence of lower extremity function performed either on a stable or unstable surfaces.

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Trunk impairment scale

    The Trunk Impairment Scale (TIS) is a valid tool for assessing motor impairment of the trunk in stroke patients. In a sitting position, patient's static and dynamic sitting balance, as well as trunk coordination were assessed. For the static subscale, the patient's ability to maintain a sitting position with feet supported and legs crossed. The lateral flexion of the trunk and unilateral hip lifting were assessed to quantify the dynamic sitting balance. To assess the coordination function, the patient was instructed to rotate the upper or lower part of their trunk six times, initiating movements from the shoulder or pelvic girdle. The total score ranges from 0 (minimal performance) to 23 (perfect performance). This scale has high reliability, validity, and predictive value for functional outcomes, making it an effective tool for evaluating trunk function in stroke patients

    Time frame: Baseline, post-treatment week 4

Secondary outcomes

  1. Functional Mobility

    The Rivermead Mobility Index (RMI) is a valid tool for assessing functional mobility in stroke patients. It is the 15-item questionnaire, which includes 14 self-reported items and one direct observation task. The items cover a range of mobility activities, from turning in bed to running. For each item, the patient receives a score of 1 if they can perform the task independently, or 0 if they cannot. The assessor allowed the patient to attempt each task unless there is a safety concern. The total score ranges from 0 to 15, with higher scores indicating better functional mobility

    Time frame: Baseline, post-treatment week 4

  2. Berg Balance Scale

    The Berg Balance Scale (BBS) is a valid and reliable tool, consisting of 14-items that evaluates a patient's ability to maintain balance while performing functional tasks. The assessment items range from simple activities like sitting unsupported to more challenging tasks such as standing on one foot. Each item is scored on a 5-point ordinal scale from 0 (unable to perform) to 4 (independent) depending on the patient's achievement level. A score of ≤49/56 indicates a fall risk in stroke patients and change of 4-7 points considered clinically significant improvement

    Time frame: Baseline, post-treatment week 4

07

Study locations

1 site
  • Gulf Medical University
    Ajman, 4184, United Arab Emirates
08

References and documents

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No — The data may be provided based upon request related to research purpose

No publications or documents are linked to this record.

09

Timeline

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
ElapsedEstimatedEstimated, not yet reached

Ran from Dec 2020 to primary completion in Sep 2021, 9 months.

How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.

Registered
Nov 6, 2024
First posted
Nov 7, 2024
StartActual
Dec 15, 2020
Primary completionActual
Sep 25, 2021
CompletionActual
Oct 16, 2024
Last update
Nov 8, 2024
What these dates mean
Start.
When the first participant enrolled; while estimated, when the study expects to open to recruitment.
Primary completion.
When the last participant was examined or treated to collect data for the study's main question, its primary outcome. A study that stopped early gives the date its data collection stopped.
Completion.
When the last participant's last visit took place, for every outcome, secondary ones and side effects included: the end of the study. Often later than primary completion, sometimes the same day.
Actual and Est.
Actual means the registry says the date has happened. Est. (estimated) is a date the sponsor plans or expects. It can still move, and the sponsor is expected to change it to actual once it has passed.
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Nov 8, 2024, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT06679699
Lead sponsor
Gulf Medical University
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Nov 7, 2024
Start date
Dec 15, 2020
Primary completion
Sep 25, 2021
Completion
Oct 16, 2024
Last update
Nov 8, 2024

Study contacts

Ramprasad Muthukrishnan, PDF
study chair · Gulf Medical University

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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