Comparison of the effects of core stabilization and PNF exercises on balance, functional capacity and gait in patients with chronic stroke

Most studies in stroke rehabilitation focus on addressing upper or lower extremity dysfunction. The recovery of trunk function, in addition to upper and lower extremity rehabilitation, is a highly overlooked area in stroke rehabilitation research. In this study, we aimed to examine and compare the effects of core stabilization exercises (CSE) and proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) exercises on balance, functional capacity, and walking performance in patients with chronic stroke. A total of 24 individuals who had been diagnosed with a stroke at least six months prior were randomized into two groups: the core stabilization training group (CSE, n=12) and the PNF training group (PNF, n=12). The participants' balance ability was assessed using the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and Functional Reach Test (FRT), functional capacity with the Six-Minute Walk Test (6MWT), and walking performance with the Timed Up and Go Test (TUG) both before and after the intervention. Both groups initially underwent 30 minutes of conventional therapy. Additionally, the CSE group received 30 minutes of core stabilization exercises, while the PNF group received 30 minutes of PNF exercises. All participants were trained by the same physiotherapist three times a week for six weeks. There were no statistically significant differences in demographic and clinical characteristics between the two groups (p>0.05). Pre-intervention assessments of BBS, FRT, 6MWT, and TUG scores also showed no significant differences between the groups (p>0.05). In both groups, a statistically significant difference was found in balance, functional capacity, and walking parameters after treatment compared to before treatment (p<0.05). However, no statistically significant differences were observed between the groups in BBS (p=0.543), FRT (p=0.525), 6MWT (p=0.729), and TUG (p=0.204) scores. As a result, it was determined that both core stabilization and PNF applications are effective in improving balance, functional capacity, and gait performance, but neither was found to be superior to the other in terms of effectiveness. Keywords: Core Stabilization, Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation, Stroke, Balance, Functional Capacity, Gait.