Effect of integrating an 8-figure shoulder brace into rehabilitation exercise on trunk control, balance, and gait parameters in patients with chronic stroke: a randomized controlled trial.

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the effect of integrating an 8-figure shoulder brace (8-FSB) into rehabilitation exercises on trunk control, balance, and gait parameters in patients with chronic stroke. Participants were randomly assigned to either an experimental group (rehabilitation exercise with 8-FSB, <i>n</i> = 11) or a control group (rehabilitation exercise only, <i>n</i> = 11). Both groups participated in 30-minute sessions, five times per week for four weeks. Outcome measures included trunk impairment scale, total center of pressure distance, timed up and go test, gait speed, and step length. Assessments were conducted before and after the intervention. Independent t-tests were used for between-group comparisons, and paired t-tests for within-group comparisons. After four weeks, the experimental group showed significant improvements in trunk control, balance, gait speed, and step length on the unaffected side (<i>p</i> < 0.05). No significant change was observed in step length on the affected side in either group (<i>p</i> > 0.05). Integrating the 8-FSB into rehabilitation exercises may enhance trunk control, balance, and gait ability in patients with chronic stroke, thereby contributing to their functional recovery.