Efficacy of a Four-Week Diagonal Pattern Exercise Program on Trunk and Lower Limb Function in Patients With Stroke-Induced Hemiplegia

Objective
The intended effect of this investigation is to quantify the efficacy of a four-week program of diagonal
pattern exercises in managing trunk impairments and improving gait difficulties in hemiplegic stroke
subjects. The study aims to measure changes in trunk stability and gait parameters post-intervention,
providing insights into the potential therapeutic benefits of these exercises for stroke rehabilitation.
Methodology
This experimentation approach encompassing before and the follow-up test evaluations was implemented
in this investigation. It was conducted at Madha College of Physiotherapy, Chennai, using convenience
sampling to recruit 20 stroke subjects meeting specific inclusion criteria. Participants underwent pre-test
evaluations for trunk control and gait. They were then divided equally into two groups for a four-week
intervention comprising diagonal pattern exercises or single-plane training. Treatment sessions were
administered five days per week for 45 minutes each. Posttest evaluations assessed changes in trunk control
using the Trunk Impairment Scale (TIS) and gait parameters via the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test.
Results
Pretest analysis indicated no substantial baseline variations among the experimental and control groups,
affirming their suitability for comparison. Posttest analysis of intervention at a 5% significance level
revealed that the experimental group demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in trunk control,
as measured by the TIS and TUG test, compared to the control group. The paired t-test results showed
significant differences in pre- and posttest values within each group, while the unpaired t-test confirmed the
superiority of the experimental group's outcomes, with a P-value < 0.05. This improvement is likely due to
the effectiveness of the diagonal pattern exercise in enhancing trunk muscle activity and coordination.
Conclusions
This study concludes that diagonal pattern training is more beneficial for improving trunk musculature
control and locomotory ability in chronic cerebrovascular accident subjects. The exercise program's
simplicity, minimal risks, and ease of home application after initial therapist supervision make it a
promising therapeutic approach.