أثر تمارين توازن الجلوس في مستوى الحركة و التحكم في الوضعية ومستوى الاعتمادية بين مرضى الجلطة الدماغية

Effect of Sitting Balance Exercises on the Level of Mobility, Postural Control, and Level of Dependency among Patients with Stroke

Abstract

Stroke commonly results in problems with balance, which increases the falling risk, limit physical mobility, and increased dependency. Patients with stroke can improve their balance by engaging in balance training exercises. This study aims to identify the effect of sitting balance exercises on mobility, postural control, and dependency levels in patients with stroke. A quasi-experimental study was conducted at Imam Al- Hussein Medical City, from 26 September 2022 to 15 July 2023. A non-probability purposive sampling consisted of sixty patients with stroke was divided into intervention and control groups. The study instruments include physical mobility scale, berg balance scale, and modified barthel index scale. The scales validity was investigated by a panel of seventeen experts and reliability by a pilot study. The study results were examined and measured using a descriptive analysis method as well as an inferential analysis method (independent sample T-test, paired sample T-test, and ANOVA); a p-value of 0.05 was determined statistically significant. The study found that 53.3% and 66.7% of patients in control and intervention groups at pre-test assessment had severe mobility impairment, while 83.3% and 80% had high fall risk. Additionally, 76.7% and 86.7% had severe dependency levels. A significant difference at P-value of 0.000 was observed between pre-test and post-test assessments in physical mobility, balance, and dependency levels. Sitting balance exercises post-stroke for 15-30 minutes, two sessions per day for14 days significantly help to improve mobility, postural control, reduce dependency, and promoting independence in daily activities. The researcher recommends the importance of conducting other studies to investigate the effect of sitting balance exercises on other physical limitation for patients with stroke such as muscle weakness, or to prevent muscle atrophy or joint stiffness.