Pelvic Belt Wearing during Exercise Improves Balance of Patients with Stroke: A Randomized, Controlled, Preliminary Trial

Objectives: To investigate whether wearing a pelvic belt during a trunk stability exercise program positively affects balance in patients with stroke. Materials and Methods: Twenty-four patients with stroke were randomly allocated to the experimental or control group and performed a 60-min general physical therapy and an additional 30-min trunk stability exercise (five times/week for 6 weeks). Those in the experimental and control groups performed the trunk stability exercises with and without wearing the pelvic belt, respectively. Results: The experimental group showed a significantly greater magnitude of improvements in balance than the control group (Postural Assessment Scale for Stroke: +18.3%, F (1, 22)=14.350, p=.001, eta(2)=.395; Berg Balance Scale: +11%, F (1, 22)=19.062, p=.000, eta(2)=.464; Timed Up and Go Test:-10.5%, F (1, 22)=8.562, p=.008, eta(2)=.280; center of pressure path length with eyes open:-15.1%, F (1, 22)=6.770, p=.016, eta(2)=.235; center of pressure path length with eyes closed:-19.5%, F (1, 22)=9.256, p=.006, eta(2)=.296; center of pressure path velocity with eyes open:-22.6%, F (1, 22)=37.747, p=.000, eta(2)=.632; center of pressure path velocity with eyes closed:-13.9%, F (1, 22)=6.511, p=.018, eta(2)=.228, respectively). Conclusions: Wearing a pelvic belt while performing trunk stability exercise programs could be a more effective approach for improving balance in patients with stroke.