Feasibility of Trunk Control as a Predictor of Motor Recovery, Postural Transfer, and Activities of Daily Living for Stroke Patients

Abstract

Trunk control is an important factor in stroke rehabilitation because it stabilizes the spine and rib cage, enabling individuals to maintain an upright posture, adjust weight, and perform static and dynamic postural adjustments. This study aimed to assess the feasibility of using trunk control as a predictor of motor recovery, postural transfer, and activities of daily living in patients with stroke. Seventeen patients with subacute stroke participated in this study. Four reliable and valid tests were used to examine trunk control, postural transfer, activities of daily living, and motor recovery, including the trunk impairment scale (TIS), 5 times sit-to-stand test (5XSST), modified Barthel index (MBI), and Fugl–Meyer assessment of motor functioning (FMA-motor), respectively. Upon analyzing the corrected data, no statistically significant relationship was found between the TIS score and the 5XSST, MBI, and FMA-motor scores. The 5XSST score, MBI, and FMA-motor also did not show statistically significant relationships. Despite the lack of a significant relationship, the TIS score exhibited a positive relationship with the MBI and FMA-motor scores and a negative relationship with the 5XSST. Based on the results of this study, trunk control in the sitting position is not feasible as a predictor of postural transfer, activities of daily living, and motor recovery after a stroke. This study suggests that Future studies should explore the relationship between trunk control and different positions, such as kneeling, half kneeling, and standing, as predictors of postural transfer, activities of daily living, and motor recovery after stroke.