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, η2=.395; Berg Balance Scale: +11%, F (1, 22)=19.062, p=.000, η2=.464; Timed Up and Go Test: −10.5%, F (1, 22)=8.562, p=.008, η2=.280; center of pressure path length with eyes open: −15.1%, F (1, 22)=6.770, p=.016, η2=.235; center of pressure path length with eyes closed: -19.5%, F (1, 22)=9.256, p=.006, η2=.296; center of pressure path velocity with eyes open: -22.6%, F (1, 22)=37.747, p=.000, η2=.632; center of pressure path velocity with eyes closed: −13.9%, F (1, 22)=6.511, p=.018, η2=.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.