Effects of a sitting boxing program on upper limb function, balance, gait, and quality of life in stroke patients

BACKGROUND: Boxing training including traditional stretching, muscular strength training, and duration training would be considered to be effective for improved functional stretching, dynamic balance, walking speed, and quality of life. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to investigate upper limb function, balance, gait, and quality of life in stroke patients before and after a sitting boxing program. METHODS: Twenty-six participants were randomly allocated to a boxing group (n = 13) and control group (n = 13) after the upper limb function, balance, gait, and quality of Life were recorded. The boxing group underwent a sitting boxing program (3 times/week) as well as conventional physical therapy (3 times/week) for 6 weeks. The control group only underwent conventional physical therapy (3 times/week) for 6 weeks. RESULTS: The Manual Functional Test (MFT), non-affected hand grip, Berg Balance Scale (BBS), velocity moment with eye opened, 10-m Walk Test (10 MWT), and Stroke-Specific Quality of Life questionnaire (SS-QOL) were significantly improved in the boxing group (p < 0.05) and showed significantly greater improvements in the boxing group compared to the control group (p < 0.05) after 6 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: The sitting boxing program group had positive effects on upper extremity function, balance, gait, and quality of life in stroke patients.