Efficacy of Augmented Training Program for Hip Abductors in Stroke Patients

Background: Stroke patients are suffering from weakness of hip abductors that causes disturbance of balance and functional activities, in addition to, increasing the risk of fall. The main aims of this study were to evaluate the efficacy of a re-education program for rehabilitation of hip abductors on balance and some functional activities and to study its long-term effect on these activities as compared with traditional exercises.Material and Methods: Forty stroke patients participated in the study. They were divided randomly into two equal groups. The study group received the re-education program in addition to traditional exercises while control group received traditional exercises only for successive eight weeks. Lateral reach test, timed up and go test, medio-lateral stability and the maximum angle of lateral sway of the trunk during standing from sitting were measured before treatment, after treatment and after another three months.Results: There was significant difference between pre post-treatment in both groups and significant difference between post-treatment follow-up in the study group and non significant in the control group.Conclusion: Proper re-education program for the hip abductors is very effective in the rehabilitation of stroke patients.