Background and Purpose: Stroke rehabilitation targets functional retraining of the limbs along with balance and gait. Even after extensive rehabilitation, up to 50% of stroke survivors experience motor deficits and balance problems that linger due to which the individuals are at high risk of falls. Trunk impairments though common do not manifest themselves as an individual problem and can impact balance. The purpose was to study the effect of Pilates mat exercises on balance and limits of stability in chronic stroke patients. It was hypothesized that since core training is not the point of focus in stroke rehabilitation, training the same through Pilates method could give better improvements in balance.Subjects and Methods: 9 individuals were randomly allocated to either Pilates exercise group (PG, n=5) or Control Group (CG, n=4).the CG attended a regular rehabilitation program for stroke & the balance exercises were progressed week-wise. The PG, in addition to conventional treatment, attended 18 Pilates exercise sessions over a period of 6 weeks (3 sessions / week). Tinetti Performance Oriented Mobility Assessment Scale (POMA) and Limits of Stability (LOS) including Reaction Time (RT), End Point Excursion (EPE), Maximum Excursion (MXE), Movement Velocity (MVL), and Directional Control (DC) were measured before and after the exercise program & compared to assess the training effects.[Results]: Pilates exercises positively affected both dynamic balance and LOS in Chronic Stroke patients. For LOS, the RT (0.0427) and MXE (0.0292) components showed significant improvement in the PG while the improvements in CG were not significant. Other components of LOS-EPE, MVL, DC showed improvements clinically in both PG and CG but were not statistically significant via unpaired 't' test. For dynamic balance, the improvements in POMA score were more in PG than CG (p=0.05) and were significant. Conclusion: This pilot study provides initial evidence that Pilates exercises may help improve balance and LOS in chronic stroke patients.

Background and Purpose: Stroke survivors are impaired by asymmetric posture, reduced voluntary control of movement, abnormal body balance, and deficit of weight transfer which affects their postural control and walking ability thereby increasing risk of fall.Ankle dorsiflexion plays an major role in balance and gait.The purpose of the study was to see the effect of spring assisted technique of Kinesiotaping on gait speed and rhythmic weight shift in stroke patients. The hypothesis was that it would act as a support as well as stimulate primary dorsiflexors Tibalis Anterior thereby improving gait speed and static balance.Methods and Methods: 10 subjects,both male and female with sub acute and chronic stroke were selected. Pre assessment was done by rhythmic weight shifts in which movement velocity and directional control of both right/left and front/back, gait speed was noted by 3 min walk test and laps counted. Kinesio tape was applied by spring assisted technique. After application immediately and after 3 days, rhythmic weight shift was checked on NeuroCom Balance Master and gait speed by 3 min walk was taken.Results: Paired t test analysis showed there was no significant changes seen in right and left movement velocity and directional control , significant changes observed in anterior and posterior movement velocity and extremely significant changes observed in gait speed immediately as well as 3 days post application if Kinesiotape. Conclusion:Spring assisted technique has a beneficial effect on gait speed and anterior/posterior movement velocity of rhythmic weight shifts. There was clinical improvement in anterior posterior weight shift directional control though not statistically significant.

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