The effect of trunk stabilization exercises on walking speed and trunk balance

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of trunk stabilization exercises on gait speed and trunk balance in Cerebral Palsy. The study included 25 children diagnosed with hemiplegic cerebral palsy, aged between 10-18 years, with levels I and II according to the Gross Motor Classification System, in the Private Urfa Çınar Rehabilitation Center in Şanlıurfa. Individuals were divided into 2 groups as exercise group (n=13) and control group (n=12) by closed envelope method. Conventional physiotherapy was applied to the control group. n the exercise group, trunk stabilization exercises were applied together with the traditional physiotherapy application. The exercises were done twice a week for 8 weeks. Participants were evaluated before and after the 8-week exercise program. The 1-minute walking test (1MWT) was used to evaluate the walking speed of individuals. Pediatric balance scale (PBS) and trunk involvement scale (TIS) were used for trunk balance.In terms of 1 MWT and PBS values, it was observed that there was an improvement after treatment compared to before treatment in both groups (p<0.001). However, when the groups were compared, it was determined that there was no difference between the two groups (p>0.05). It was found that the groups showed similar effects in terms of the total scores of the trunk involvement scale (p>0.05), but the static part of the TIS gave better results in the control group, and the dynamic and coordination part of the TIS gave better results in the exercise group (p<0.05). Trunk stabilization exercises and traditional physiotherapy methods showed the same effects in increasing trunk balance and walking speed of individuals with CP. There is a need for long-term studies involving different types of CP on trunk stabilization exercises.