The impact of rehabilitation education on postural alignment

The Impact of Rehabilitation Education on Postural Alignment Purpose: The aim of this study is to determine the effect of rehabilitation education provided by a nurse on the postural status of individuals who have had a stroke Materials and methods: The study was conducted as a randomized controlled, pretest-posttest experimental design between January 20, 2024, and April 20, 2024, with a total of 100 patients divided into an experimental group (n=50) and a control group (n=50). The study population consisted of individuals diagnosed with stroke who were hospitalized in the Neurology ward of Malatya Training and Research Hospital. Patients in the experimental group (n=50) received education and underwent postural assessment. Measurements were taken three times for the educated patients: before the education, two weeks after, and one month after the education. Data were collected using a Personal Information Form and the Postural Assessment Scale for Stroke Patients (PASS). The data obtained from the study were analyzed using SPSS version 29.0. Results: Before the training, there was no significant difference in PASS scores between the control and intervention groups (p=0.255). In the second week, a significant increase was observed only in the intervention group (Mean=20.90). By the end of the first month, the PASS score of the intervention group had increased markedly (Mean=24.72), while no change was observed in the control group (p<0.001). ANOVA results showed that PASS scores in the intervention group increased significantly over time (F=92.023, p<0.001, η²=0.653), whereas the scores in the control group remained largely unchanged. These findings indicate that rehabilitation education significantly and strongly improves postural status. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that comprehensive rehabilitation education applied to individuals who have experienced a stroke improves postural status and enhances overall functional independence. The findings support the need for wider implementation of such interventions. Considering that rehabilitation is not only a therapeutic but also a preventive approach that improves quality of life, it is recommended that these programs receive greater emphasis both in clinical practice and health policies, with active participation of nurses. Keywords: Posture, Rehabilitation, Stroke