ABSTRACT

Objective : This study investigated the effects of action observation trunk training on trunk control, balance, and activities of daily living in patients with acute stroke. Methods : Fourteen inpatients were randomly allocated to either the experimental group, who underwent action observation trunk training, or the control group, who underwent landscape observation trunk training(n = 7 each). Each intervention consisted of a 30-min session once a day, five times a week, for three weeks. Each intervention consisted of a 30-min session once a day, five times a week, for three weeks. To measure trunk control, balance, and performance capacity in activities of daily living, the Trunk Impairment Scale(TIS), Modified Functional Reach Test(M-FRT), Berg Balance Scale(BBS), and Korean-modified Barthel Index(K-MBI) were used before and after the intervention. Results : After the intervention, both groups showed a significant increase in TIS, M-FRT, BBS, and K-MBI scores (p<.05). Using change value comparison, the experimental group showed a greater increase in TIS and M-FRT scores (p<.05). Conclusion : Action observation trunk training was effective in facilitating trunk control, balance, and activities of daily living in patients with trunk control deficits after acute stroke. Therefore, action observation trunk training in standing may be used as a new intervention method to provide active and dynamic training for rehabilitating patients with acute stroke.